By Jeanette M. Pintar - with inspiration from Misty

The backyard of our first Georgia residence was quite spacious. The stone patio that met our door wandered up a hill to a large swimming pool. On the other side of the pool, tall pine trees framed a miniature peach orchard and garden. This is where Misty and I got to know each other. As our connection grew stronger, Misty would spend more and more time on the patio with me. One day she gazed out across the sparkling pool water into the trees and suddenly took off running. She zoomed full-speed ahead up the hill, around the pool and straight to the top of the tallest pine! She looked around for a brief second and I thought she might be stuck. But within a moment, she was inching her way back down. As she rounded the corner back to the patio, I noticed she had something in her mouth - and it was alive! Oh no, now what? Misty proudly pranced to the patio and gently placed a squiggling little chameleon at my feet. There wasn't a puncture mark on the little creature and Misty was content to just watch him wander about the patio stones, occasionally "assisting" our lizard friend back into her view. After a while she let it walk away, perfectly unscathed.

Misty's tree climbing ability impressed me. I wish I had as good of navigating skills the times when I've felt driven up a tree or stuck with no way out. Misty could have panicked and let fear hold her in its boughs, but she didn't. She took a good look around, accepted the gifts that were presented to her under the circumstances (even if it was a lizard) and slowly, carefully, found her way back down. She kept her focus looking straight ahead and maintained a secure grip. She then took time to enjoy the rewards of her challenge. That's a pretty good technique for all of us to learn.

--- © Jeanette M. Pintar, Inspired by Misty