Doggie Dodo Detail

Doggie Dodo Detail

Believe it or not, I have a story about doggie dodo. It may not rank high on stimulating and edifying blog topics. However, I have observed in life that the simple and mundane are often the most poignant teachers. I must have a gift in this area because nobody else I know is talking about it.

Growing up in a household of seven siblings, my parents and grandmother, there were many opportunities to experience the simple and mundane. We were a typical Catholic family that attended Mass on Sunday and said our prayers before meals and at bedtime. Each of us was assigned chores to help spread the workload and maintain some level of orderliness.

Besides keeping my room clean, taking turns setting the table, doing dishes and taking out the garbage, my brother and I were charged with cleaning up after our dogs. Of all the chores I disliked the most, it was the doggie dodo detail. I could never understand why my sisters were exempt from this job. They wanted the dogs and played with them just as much as we did. When I complained to my father about this gender inequity, he reminded me that this was man’s work!

I soon learned this was a thankless job. Nobody complimented me on what a good job I did. In the summer, it was hot and stinky. In the winter I pulled a toboggan with a garbage can on it, scrapping up frozen doggie dodo. I finally found out where where all that dog food went.

After a year of this, I approached my father and asked him why we couldn’t hire somebody to do this thankless job. His answer is forever etched in my mind. He said, “The doggie dodo detail is character building and your character needs building! On top of that this is good experience for later in life when you have to deal with other people’s dodo.”

All these years later, I am still on the doggie dodo detail. Nobody else volunteers, so I am still scooping it up. I trust that this job has developed my character and taught me something about dealing with other people’s dodo. Thanks Dad for the wise counsel and experience.