I think they were attempting to play soccer....that's what it looked like in my back yard, but with only two boys and one sheltie it is hard to say. It appeared to my untrained eyes, soccer never being 'my' sport, that there were three 'teams' playing. There was Jeff's, where he was the only player on his team, there was Benny's team where again he was the only player. And then there was Kimi. Being a sheltie of sound mind and tiny body she did her best to make up her entire team as well. Darting all around the back yard after the ball that was at least 3 times her size, she played goalie, captain, and all the other postitions that needed filling. But she was best at protecting 'her' goal. Wherever that was. She quickly figured out that if she laid in front of the ball, the boys couldn't kick it again...thus she 'scored'! If she happened to be on Benny's 'side' then Jeff shouted 'AND SHE SCORES!!" With that Kimi would jump up all excited and run around yipping at everything and nothing, and tearing out blades of grass as she ran. I think this was supposed to be her own celebration confetti.

The thing that made her happiest though, it seemed, was when the ball was in play. Then her little golden-brown furry body would scurry off after the ball. If the ball was kicked into the air, Kimi would do her best to launch herself up...up...as high as she could to 'block' it. Not that she ever connected, but Kimi's pint sized determination to be the first one to make 'contact' with the ball never wavered. No matter how tired she got, no matter how far out her tongue would hang, she never slowed a step. Round and round the yard she chased this ball yipping and yapping at the boys, at the tree, at whatever happened to be in her way. Then it happened....

She discovered that while she napped earlier the grass had been mowed. You ever see what happens to grass when it is freshly mowed? How it glistens in the sunlight? How the dampness from within each blade of grass comes forth to join the other droplets on the surface? Do you have any idea how slick the surface can become for one tiny dynamo of a puppy? Especially one built so close to the ground anyway? AND SHE'S OFF!! Round and round the yard she ran yipping in joyful abandon! Yipping like mad she ran, each "YIP" seeming to shout..."Fast as fast can be...you'll never catch me!!!!!!" And off she'd go again. Then my wonder of wonders discovered that newly mowed grass is indeed slick...and what is slick makes sliding a snap! She would race off in one direction full tilt, only to reach the other side, twist her midget sized body tightly while slamming on her brakes at the same time. No small feat for one so young and unco-ordinated either! This 'move' of hers would send her body into a full 'spin-out', and belly down in the grass she would execute a near perfect 180 degree slide with the look of laughter all over her face.

The ball game over for now, we all stopped to watch Kimi at play. After completing a spin she would roll her little self over in the grass and come up covered in chopped up pieces of greenery. Without waiting to shake it off, Kimi would race off again to the other side of the yard letting out a loud "YIP" as she took off. If a pup could 'burn rubber' taking off in wet grass, Kimi would have done so today! Never have I witnessed such pure unadulterated joy from the feel of wet grass and the simple pleasure of running rampant thru newly mown clover. One problem with being so young though is that you 'wind down' a little more quickly then one perhaps twice your age. Not that that was a problem for Jeff and Benny who were more than ready to resume their own game of one-on-one soccer. For now little Kimi was content to remain belly down in the cool wet grass and watch them play, the contagious smile never leaving her adorable face. She knew her human type 'brothers' would let her in the game again whenever she was ready. And if not she would just tell mom on them and mom would make them let her play too! Just like most little 'sisters' everywhere!

We should all learn to enjoy the simple things that life sends to us with as much joy and abandon as does our sweet Kimi. Life would be more enjoyable for us all. I say learn to play like a puppy and stop letting life pass you by without notice. It's over fast enough as it is.

Kristi & Kimi....(well said mommy...now ...LET'S PLAY!!)