If I had forever

Pinecones!
There are heaps of scattered pinecones on our block.
They aren’t the prickly, pokey, pear-shaped cones;
No, these are smooth, more conical, longer in appearance.
The perfect width for Gertie’s short little snout.

She got a haircut yesterday.
So, sporting her hip and happening donut-patterned bandana, we set off on our morning walk.
She pulled me toward the window where her nemesis lives.
(A sweet black and white mutt named Sunday who we actually got to meet the other day without a window in between us)
Sunday snarled and bared her teeth as usual (Gertie is Sunday’s nemesis, too)
To which Gertie gave her mean and vicious responses.

Onward, we skipped and pranced toward the pinecone house.
Gertie found her favorite and snatched it up with vigor.
She tossed it and then looked at me expectantly.
It was now my turn to kick it forward so she could chase it and grab it once more.

On and on we went, turning corners and crossing streets.
Sometimes she’d carry it and we would make quick and steady progress.
Other times, it was run-catch-toss-kick, run-catch-toss-kick the whole way down the block.

However it was, G was delighted.
I was having fun, too.

It’s been spring-like weather in Chicago this week.
“Weird, yet nice!” all of the neighbors and friends say to each other as we meet on the sidewalks with open coats and no hats.

This afternoon, I am looking forward to a walk with a friend.
It's supposed to turn colder, so I’ll grab the hat that’s already made its way to the back of the closet.

If I had forever, I’d keep doing this.