Musing About My Muse

For a Writers’ Group prompt, we were to introduce our muse, our source of inspiration.  As I pondered my muse, it occurred to me that it lay directly in front of me on the floor, two sets of legs stretched upward in a cockroach position.  My greyhounds touch my heart everyday with their large brown eyes or one of their silly postures.  

Hearing the plight of the greyhound influenced my desire to adopt my first dog, but their endearing traits shaped my further adoptions (eight to this date).  Their sad story represents only a small part of what encourages greyhound adoption.  The dog itself tantalizes and then motivates action.  

My first dog sparked enthusiasm for involvement in greyhound rescue.  I bugged, cajoled, and probably wore my rescue contact down until organizing Meet & Greets once a month at a PetsMart became a passion.  Having to drive 45 minutes to the store solidified my purpose and working those M & G’s honed my greyhound knowledge.  Finally, a PetsMart in my town opened up, and I moved my operation.  

Talking about the dogs has never become old for me (and heaven knows, I can talk).  Moving to Virginia’s Eastern Shore and finding a rescue close enough to work with presented challenges, but with my dogs as a catalyst (and muse), I scaled that mountain.  Finding venues to showcase the dogs remain another hurdle, but the dogs continually energize me on their behalf.

As I became interested in writing and took classes, the continual pull to tell their story prompted many aspects of my writing.  Many of the pieces I write center on facets of the greyhound life as illustrated by this blog.  I do write about other things, but often, it just comes back to them.    

As I venture into my new interest of drawing, I find those long nosed, four legged creatures creeping onto the paper.  They just can’t stop.  They consume my waking hours, and refuse to take no for an answer.  Their lovable faces and cute posing cry out to be captured and deny silence.  It always seems to be about them. 

Writing this forced me to worry if something might be wrong with me.  The greyhound thing acts like an addiction that I just can’t give up.  This dedication to my dogs does sound a little scary, but I promise I don’t obsess about them all the time.  It only comes out when creative projects raise their barking heads (oops,there it goes again) or someone asks me about greyhounds.  So yes, my muse (or muses) are four long-legged, long nosed, cockroaching creatures, and they ignite the fire in my soul.