Party Poopers

As I put together my dog teams for our off-leash adventures, I need to be sure to get at least two "party animals" in the mix for any given trip to the dog park. Without a canine of kindred spirit, my compulsive chasers, wrestlers and squirrel hunters have no accomplice with whom to cavort. Despite their animated allegiance to me, they will look elsewhere for a better party. (Sounds like the college scene!) My magnetic personality is only as attractive as my ability to provide a rowdy play partner. I failed to do this yesterday and relearned my lesson.

Koda, my Border Collie mix "does not play well with others." He tries but his brusque, business-like mentality of squelching any activity he considers a potential uprising, throws a wet blanket on the flames of a perfectly good game of chase. The teeth flashing and commanding growls just don't spell 'fun-loving.' I've tried to explain that to him, that he doesn't need to manage the marauders, but just to go with their flow and enjoy the jaunt, but he just can't seem to transcend his genetics. The "taken-to-task" look on the wounded players faces was all to familiar to me.

It struck me with a rush of recognition... I'm often a wet blanket at parties in my world too. Mostly I can blame it on too many hours in my therapist's chair over the years. I kind of get used to going for the throat of the issue at hand, and posing imposing questions or insights into the conversation. Comfortable with this level of interaction, I manage to make everyone else uncomfortable. A scene from "Friends" comes to mind where some psychologist acquaintance of theirs 'wet blankets' Chandler as he entertains everyone with his jokes, with the comment, "I'd hate to be there when the laughter stops." A perfect line to kill the momentum of a playful moment, but unfortunately it is often my exact modus operandi. Lynette lose the bared teeth and commanding growl! Just go with the flow!

So I herey issue an apology to all of you, my friends and family, whose fun energy I have smothered with inappropriate words over the years. Forgive me, "I know not what I do." Help me to learn how to keep the laughter going when it is healthy to do so. Tell me to 'lighten up' when my wet blanket comes out. Every party has a pooper, but I'm done with that being me!