Dogs in Cars

I'm going with my own topic for Day 3 of the 30 day writing challenge.

Back in the day when Chris and I were young and childless, we lived in an upstairs apartment in Joliet IL's Cathedral district. The owners of the home lived on the main level and we had stairs at the back of the house to an outside entrance for our apartment.

The owners had a beautiful golden retriever named Sundance.
Sundance loved to go for car rides. Whenever I was going to run a short errand, he always looked on longingly as I got into my car and drove away.
One day I asked the owners if they would mind if I took him with me sometime when I was only going to be gone for a short time. They said he would love that!

And love it, he did!

My car was a two door, 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. Sundance would sit on the passenger side of the front seat with his head out the window and ears trailing in the wind as we drove down the road. Whenever we came to a stop light, he would pull his head in and look at me as if to ask, "Why are we stopping?"

As soon as I started moving again, the head went back out the window and Sundance was a happy dog!

I always thought it was funny that he (and other dogs) loved riding with his face in the wind.
...Until I got a motorcycle!

Now, after decades have gone by, I understand why Sundance loved the wind in his face!
I wonder if that feeling is as therapeutic for dogs as it is for me. I just feel better after taking even a short ride on the bike. I know motorcycle owners that rarely ride their bikes and just don't understand it. Even before I got my little CM450, I didn't understand why somebody would own a motorcycle and not ride it as often as you can.

I can't wait to upgrade to a larger bike that I can take on a road trip or two next summer!
When I told Chris of my Sundance analogy, she asked me if I liked the feel of the wind blowing my ears back!
Of course not! The human breed doesn't have long ears!
And besides, there's a helmet law in Missouri!
Silly woman!

Well it's cool and cloudy this morning; only 60F (15.5C). I think I may put on a pair of jeans and my leather jacket and make a morning coffee run on the motorcycle!
Or I may just finish another cup of coffee and home and then go for a ride.
Either way, it sounds like a grand way to start the day.

My apologies to Sundance.
You were a good teacher. Sorry I am such a slow learner!

John <><