Walking Barefoot in the Sand

Jetta’s New Found Fame

For the (almost) 3 and a half years that Jetta and I have been together everyone remembers her. How could you not? Those cute floppy ears, her big dreamy brown eyes, the giant wet black nose, her little dainty paws and of course her ass wiggle. She’s cute and she knows it! (It probably doesn’t’ help that my friends and I are constantly telling her). At first, it shocked me how many people commented on her physique as we passed, but eventually I got used to it. It is also shocking how many guys smile at her. If I walk wit a sighted friend they always notice how often men ogle at her. It’s become a running joke amongst my friends and I to say, “How’s that fair? They’re to even your species. What about the girl attached to the dog? Should I grow floppy ears and a wiggly tail?”
On swim meets, competitors from other teams often come up to me and ask if they can pet her. Of course I usually have to say no because she’s working. At the beginning of new semesters classmates whisper about how sweet she is. I’ve had breeders ask me if she’s available. Um, Hell no! A guide dog in heat is a bad idea. She’s received her own Christmas cards from family and friends; her own happy birthday Jetta emails; people remember her name and not mine; essentially, everyone just seems to love her. She’s even converted non-dog lovers. The animal has charisma!
(Don’t read this Jetta you’ll get a swollen head).
But the thing that occurred a few days ago was a first. I emailed a prof questioning him about his expectations for a certain assignment that is due at the end of the month. My emails are often signed “Jess and Jetta.” It’s become a signature…and a habit. We spend nearly every waking minute, and sleeping for that matter, together I feel as if we almost are the same person. He emailed me back a day later and I clicked on the little envelope to open it. I was surprised at the first line, which read: “Hi Jess and Jetta.” It went on to explain the assignment in great detail. I nearly fell off my Swiss ball laughing. A professor has never addressed an email to Jetta before. I’ve decided that this professor is either very crazy, or just a huge dog lover. He also asked if it would be okay for Jetta to be let off work one day in class. It seems a ten minute vacation is due. She needs her time too. Jetta really should thank him for the email anyway. This probably means I’ve been at this university too long. There aren’t very many other university students who can say, “Oh yeah, my prof emailed my dog today.” Life is never dull with Miss Jetta around that is for sure.
Hmm, does this mean that Jetta should start taking notes?