The Dog’s Balls
For those of you keeping up with the adventures of an American dog in Ireland, you may like to know, as the photo makes clear, that Dog-dog has discovered the hiding place for the tennis balls I shipped over from America.
You do remember where all these tennis balls came from?
And do you remember how I shipped tennis balls from the US to Ireland?
And for those of you wondering if Ireland is now so wealthy that it has changed to the extent that it too is littered with tennis balls like the streets of Kansas City, well it hasn’t. I haven’t found a single tennis ball since my return to Ireland in contrast with finding one every single day I ventured outdoors in KC.
Having located the store of balls, Dog-dog keeps sneaking out balls and dropping them around the place like mines.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
I’m wondering what went through Dog-Dog’s mind upon making that discovery—something like, “Oh, my, I’ve finally found the source!”, or maybe,”So this is why I had to wait for my person, then live in a strange new place not knowing how I got here…all along, Person was bringing me to where the wonderful balls grow!” Or maybe just,”He’s been holding out on me.”
I find the tennis ball findings a bit odd. I’ve lived in KC and KC area for 13 years and never once found a tennis ball. The first half of that time was heavy on self propelled travel. Bike, foot, never saw one. My father even played tennis. I’d have occasion to frequent parks or public courts were balls were present. Oh, there would be balls, but they’d be in some form of rough possesion by the various players. Never an errent ball to be found.
Were the balls found in/near the Plaza area? There are courts if memory serves. Unless they have been moved in the last few years. Very strange.
Martha - I suspect it was the “he’s been holding out on me” option, because Dog-dog too used to find them on the streets on KC and bring them home. When this discovery of the collection was made, that little stump of a tail just flickered and flickered.
Joe - We’re just talking regular streets. Certainly yes I would see a lot of balls beside the 3 courts I passed the most - the Plaza at JC Nichols & 47th, Brookside & Meyer, and 39th & Gilham - but it’s not in court areas that I’m referring to. And if you consider the child-eating size of the shores/drains in KC, it should be impossible for balls to roll too far from courts.
Over the last 2 years I’ve received emails from people who had presumed I was making up the tennis ball thing until they visited KC and found a rogue ball. I ain’t making this up - every day, on foot or bicycle wheel, I saw at least one tennis ball, nowhere near the vicinity of a court. I suspect it’s because I grew up with the habit of looking down hard in a constant search for money.
Eolai… maybe it could be like the Fuchsia plant in Ireland.
If you just toss a few into the backyard and let the sun
and the rain ( and other dogs ) get to them… maybe
soon they’ll be all over the countryside. Perhaps some
day that paritcular color green could also be known
as dog-dog-green ( or Eolaia ).
Kevin - I have unwittingly started the procedure having accidently kicked one over a back garden wall afew days back. My Gaelic Football skills are not what they were. With 30 odd more tennis balls back at the house I decided against climbing the 7 foot wall and searching the long grass that is the domain of a rather large and loud dog. So I’m down a ball as it happens - but I’ll keep ya posted on their projected explosive growth.
Our pups try to pick them up but they’re not allowed since they’ve most likely been in another dog’s mouth.
I’ll be happy when their vaccinations cycle is up to date.
Dogs also have tendency to collect other stuff right after sometime of their periods as if they are making a nest for coming babies.
my dog finds tennis balls all the time, she also loses tennis balls all the time, i wonder if there is a connection?
Medbh - When will that be? Your adorable creatures are being deprived, and does that mean I shouldn’t put them in my mouth either?
Max - Lots of pink and blue stuff I presume?
Don - Are you sure there’s more than one?
The Dog’s Balls.
I swear that’s the name of a pub I once drank in while visiting Naples. Or Barcelona. Or Haifa. Maybe it was Manila.
In any case, I remember the beer being cheap and tasting terrible.