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One of the things I’m doing on this trip is location scouting for a feature film I’m writing. North of Tonopah is probably a great location for part of the film. I first saw this area back in April and needed to return and take another look with a different perspective.
Yesterday I went on a hike that was just going to be a little hour or so dog walk. When I got to the top of the Bridal Veil Falls, which is at the end of Telluride Valley, I just had to keep going. I was parked at about 9000 feet in altitude, and by the time I got to the top of the trail, I was at about 12,200 feet. This is definitely the highest Izze and Dusty have been, and I think it might be a winner for me as well.
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I think I now understand one of the reasons I like dogs. They are ‘guardians of being’ as Eckhart Tolle says. They are only concerned about the present and are present in everything they do. Whether it is drinking water, or chasing a squirrel, or smelling the 6 inches in front of their nose while they are on a walk. They aren’t worried about tomorrow or the test they took yesterday or anything in the past or future.
They care about NOW! This is what I hear/see/interpret when I pay attention to them:
What are you doing now? Are you going to play with me? Are you going to take me for a walk? Are you going to take me outside? Are you going to sleep? Are you going to just SIT there? Are you going to feed me? How about a treat? I like treats. I’ll do stuff for you if you give me a treat. Come on just do something with me, like now already!
Eckhart Tolle responded to a question from Grace in Pleasanton, California, who asked: “Since I’ve been an owner of a dog I find myself so much more in the present. My question is, why am I naturally so much more present with animals than I’m sometimes dealing with people?”
Well, the animal does not provoke thought activity because the dog is not thinking. When the dog looks at you, the dog is not thinking what kind of person you are, the dog is not judging you, there’s— the dog is at a stage of consciousness prior to the arrival of thought. So the dog is—and that state has certain similarities with the state of presence, in which is the state of going beyond thinking—where we are going.
I was packing up the motorhome the other night after horseback riding, getting ready to pull out early in the morning so i can make it to the 8:30am river raft trip down the snake river here in the Tetons. The dogs watched me do the dishes, take out the trash, put all my dirty clothes in the hamper, take a shower, shave, eat, etc…. and then they wanted to play. They were tired of seeing me do stuff and didn’t care that we had just gone for a long walk. hey wanted to play tug of war, fetch, hide the bone, etc. NOW. stop all this commotion, stop worrying about getting up early again, and play with us!!!!!
Dogs force us to be present. Thanks Izze and Dusty!
the last couple of days were much better in yellowstone – so much better that it seemed like everything was a vivid blue. the sky was clear, the animals were out, the dogs were barking – wait – shhhhhhh – no bark! 
