Appearances

I took this photo of Zoe watching for Levi earlier today.  It is dark and gloomy outside and dark and gloomy inside except for the warm roaring fire which you can't see, or feel the warm fuzzies I'm feeling while watching Zoe stand here at the window looking out trying to see Levi.  His bus was due to arrive in about five minutes and she was pacing back and forth between the front door and the window looking for him.  Remember when Julie used to do this?  Click here for link.  Here's the amazing thing.  Every Friday is early out.  Levi gets home a few hours earlier than on the other days of the week.  Zoe somehow knows this!  Very magical and cool.

As cool as the bond that is growing between Zoe and Levi is, this isn't the purpose of this post.  The purpose is, do you see how naked Zoe looks?  Her poor hair!  I brush her all of the time and I thought I was being a bang up responsible owner and doing all fine and dandy brushing her.  I was proud of myself!  I was actually brushing our dog!  I'm lazy.  I'm not into high maintenance.  Shocking.  I know.

It was time to give Zoe a hair cut.  When the poor puppy's hair is so long she can't see, it's time.  The Scout Master got out the clippers and started to clip.  Problem.  The clippers wouldn't go through her hair.  He gave up after about an hour.  Yes, an hour and not much to show for it.  Maybe we needed a different attachment?  A week went by and I felt sorry for Zoe.  The poor dog needs a hair cut!  I get out the clippers.  The clippers won't go through her hair.  What the heck!?  And then........ I notice.  At first glance and from all appearances, Zoe looks beautifully coiffed.  Her hair looks all Purdy and nice (and I did NOT ask my computer to capitalize Purdy but it has a mind of it's own that is really ticking me off!).  Sorry, back to story.  Zoe looks great when you look at her but when you take her hair and really look, part the hair and look to the skin, you see that the hair next to her skin is a matted mess!  Oh yes.  A horrid solid mass of matted hair!  I had no idea!!  While I was brushing, the bristles of the brush were just getting the surface and weren't getting down deep enough.

I won't tell you how many HOURS it took me to get her clipped and cleaned up.  Two days worth of hours.........  poor girl.  I feel terrible but here is where my thought process went.  She does look a bit naked and vulnerable now but over time, now that we know what the problem is, we can make sure she's brushed properly and hopefully keep her from being a mess in the future!

Any ideas where the thought process is going?  This one really hit home to me because it is me to a "T"!!  From all outer appearances, how many people do you know that look like they have it all together.  They look great!  Perfect home, marriage, kids, life, dogs, rats, fish, plumbing, etc.  only to be shocked when you find out as you get to know the person that they have knots and matts under that perfect beehive hairdo on top of their head? 

I can't tell you how many times I look out my windows of my house and think, "If people only knew........".  Knew what?  Depends on the day.  Knew that when people come to visit I throw everything in laundry baskets and hide them in my room so my house appears clean?  That some days I just want to throw a blanket over my head and not get off of the couch?  That the smile on my face is for appearances only, that inside I'm upset or crying because....... (the list is long). 

The thing is, I know I'm not the only one!  Everyone.  Everyone!!  Is this way!  So, maybe, instead of assuming everyone has it together and has perfect hair (and if you do, I don't want to talk to you.  I don't like you.) we maybe assume they have knots and matts and treat them a little kinder.....

That's all.  That is the parable of the matted dog.  Well, one of the parables.  There are several we could draw from this but that would require me to think and ponder and I can't be bothered.  Company is coming.  Time to shovel everything into laundry baskets and hide all the junk in my bedroom so people think I'm perfect and have a clean house.  Do you think anyone will notice I haven't showered yet today............?

The end!