Occasionally I participate in a blog share called Five Minute Friday. I check out the word of the week in the morning and think about it during my day wondering if it something I could find something to write about. Today’s word is FILL. Right away, I thought it was a week I would skip. I had no idea what to write about fill that would be interesting enough to share on my blog.
I got home from the last day of Camp Maple and Dave and I decided to watch an episode of Orange is the New Black. I am still catching up and loving every episode!! The doorbell rang while we were watching, which is odd for the middle of the day. It was a man from the US Census Bureau. Last year we were chosen to fill out a survey that has turned into a much bigger project than we had thought. Now we are on a list where we get surveyed in person a few times a year. Not a big deal, not a lot of time but I don’t always know when they are coming. Now when they show up at our door, the surveyor fills in the survey at our dining room table as he asks us all of the questions.
As the man entered our home, the first thing he saw was our door mat which says, “A shelter dog rescued this family.” He stepped backwards, his eyes filled with fear saying, “You have a dog? I am afraid of dogs.” I pointed at Emmy Lou, who was sleeping on her favorite pillow on the floor. He wouldn’t even look her way. Dave told him, “She’s nothing but 17 pounds of sleep.” He was still very apprehensive and I really think he wanted to do this another time but I told him that he was lucky to have us both home at the same time and this would be the best time to do it. He very hesitantly entered the living room. Emmy didn’t move a muscle. She continued to sleep, obviously not a guard dog!
I led the man into the room to go to the dining room and again told him not to worry at all about her because she was very indifferent to people and would probably never leave the pillow. He refused to walk past her pillow asking instead to walk through the kitchen and around to the other entrance to the dining room. As we sat there filling out the survey, he kept jumping in his seat telling me that he thought he heard the dog. Of course, Emmy hadn’t left her spot.
It probably took about thirty minutes total to fill the entire survey. He was a nice guy and had finally been able to calm his nerves a bit. We even found out through a bit of chit-chat that he lives in the same apartment building as my brother and even knew who he was, calling him “Chip the hockey guy.” Small world. He left without saying goodbye to Emmy Lou, but we got the survey filled out and I got a story to share because of it.
Tagged: Camp Maple, Chip the hockey guy, dogs fill an emptiness, Fill, five minute friday, FMF, Orange is the New Black, rescue pet, shelter dog, survey, US Census
A Project for Kindness 
Visiting from FMF. Nice take on the topic … but how could anyone be afraid of that adorable fluff ball?
That’s exactly what we thought !! 🙂
Oh my! That poor guy! How much he missed by holding onto fear of such treasures as dogs in one’s life. And your little guy is a cutie – not much of a guard dog. Thanks for dropping by my place at The Writer’s Reverie. Always love meeting new bloggers!
Joy!
Kathy
We never thought we’d have a dog. I grew up with them as pets but never thought I wanted the responsibility of it. Now that we have her, we can’t imagine life without her! She is part of the family.
My husband won’t even let the census people in the door. They call me at work with all their questions! I am afraid of dogs too, I have been bit four times, but I own two adorable Yorkies who are crazy. I really think that has made all the difference! What a fun story to share!!
I don’t know if I prefer the calls or in person. It takes so much time!! My son got over his fear of dogs after we adopted our Emmy Lou. We love Yorkies too!