On September, Skipping, and Suzie

How Many, How Much

How many slams in an old screen door?

Depends how loud you shut it.

How many slices in a bread?

Depends how thin you cut it.

How much good inside a day?

Depends how good you live 'em.

How much love inside a friend?

Depends how much you give 'em.

                          --Shel Silverstein

Just a bit of Mr. Silverstein's inspiration (Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Giving Tree, A Light In the Attic) to share before skipping off for the long Labor Day weekend. Hope you have more slices in your bread and less slams of the door as you go--and good inside the day, love inside a friend.

Oh, and real quick, an update on my Suzie story. After another vexing walk in which Suzie stopped a school bus, provoked drivers, and prompted me to commiserate with other walker friends having the same problem, I said a little prayer and approached Emily, the dog owner's wife (name changed to protect the innocent!). Turns out she was very frustrated herself--not only with the dog, but with her husband. "We argue about this every morning," she said. "I want to tie her up; he says just let her run." She was near tears. "And I'm going to be late for work again," she said as she went off to look for a rope.

How many slams in an old screen door? On my way home, I said another prayer--not only for a solution to the Suzie problem, but for the young couple's relationship, too.

And then today? No Suzie! What made the difference? Emily pulled up next to me on her way to work with happy news. "My husband finally listened," she said. "When I told him that the whole neighborhood goes crazy after we both leave for work, he agreed to tie Suzie up. Hope this helps." Off she went. Me? I skipped the rest of the way home.

How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em.

Happy weekending to you--and happy writing, listening, communicating and loving in the new month ahead!