I didn't tell the whole truth about how she came here., coming in the gate.
At the time there was still Tulip, Ramon and Lily. It was not long since Como Tu and Markey were murdered by a Malmute that was visiting next door. And as i said, I'd just brought home one of the Daughter's pups, Ynona, because she couldn't take her on the move back to Michigan.
All these. Little dogs, that I don't really love although I did love them, individually.
So Chinche lived down the road in a vacant area. A weed dog. She was maybe a few months old. Young. I know nothing more before her appearance there. Everytime I went in or out the gate to the truck, she would come out of the weeds, come in this direction. And as is done in the barrios of N Mex, to indicate...Go Away...whether it's animals or humans, you throw a stone.
Over and over i threw a stone, yelled, Go AWAY! and she would run back and watch me from the weeds. But again and again she came.
I told the other part about how Ynona didn't make it and i left the gate open. I gave up because I was just too sad from many things. And that was how it began. She came. I was burying Ynona and the maniac called to me...."Go, look at your dog" indicating in the direction of the house with his chin as is the way in N Mex. I came in, looked around and then saw on the bed, her head on the pillow, that small black and white form, ears straight up. "Chinche" he said. Bedbug in spanish. She became my dog. He liked the little ones. And all along, these 16, 17 years she has remained wary of anything different, shy. But she trusted her best bet. It worked out. Chinche. She was Courageous.
I read how people chose a word to flag an intention in the New Year. I have never done that, but if i did, this year, the world would be Trust. Trust the innate Intelligence that prevails. The innate Order. As Chogyam Trungpa calls it, Basic Goodness. Things take care of Themselves. Trust this. It's OK.
