A friend of mine once said tongue in cheek, “Self-awareness is not all it’s cracked up to be.”  My friend never met Lewis, but no better description of that galoot exists than that.  In previous blogs I have described or alluded to his practice of plopping down wherever he wants, his expectation of a tariff on all food consumed in the household, and his inexplicable need to walk through any door first (coming or going).  He exhibits this oblivious nature most, however, when chasing the fauna, specifically chipmunks, that dare cross the perimeter of his kingdom.

Lewis presents the greatest naivete when stalking his “prey,” known in the dog world as the dreaded Diminutive Run-Like-Hellus.  As an observer of this ritual between the Great White Hunter and the Lilliputian leapers, I am amazed at how nimble and flat out fast the little buggers are.  More amazing is how Lewis actually thinks he can catch them or even more preposterous, sneak up on them.

I must admit though, that well placed-planters, BBQ grills, and furniture provide the chipmunks with an unfair advantage.  As they race across the deck with their cheeks ballooned on bird seed, the chipmunks dive into the protective spaces just as Lewis gets to them but has to slam on the brakes before upending flower pots like bowling pins.

Occasionally, he decides that a full-on assault isn’t the answer.  Instead he strikes a statue-like stance and waits for the opportune moment.  And when that moment arrives, he explodes into action as only a 140-pound dog can…. meaning all fury, little success.

The great thing is Lewis has never had any success chasing chipmunks.  No little creature has departed this world by his hand, er, paw.  The second great thing is, Lewis never gives up.  Every day is the same.  The chipmunks come out to gather the bird seed, Lewis gets offended that they have broached his territory, and then we are off to the races.

Lewis is indeed the Great White Hunter, just not a successful one, at least in the traditional sense.  But he is great, because he never gives up.  He never doubts his abilities (regardless).  He always gives it his best effort.

People always say that given time, people start to look like their dogs.  I don’t know if that is true, but I sure would like to BE more like Lewis.

…except for the drooling part.