May 21, 2020
Mother's Day in the U.S. is May
9th. It's supposed to be a day when people show their appreciation
for their mothers in different ways. Some people will take their
mothers out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, others will buy
them gifts, or perhaps have a special celebration at home. At my
home, my family organized a special day for me. My oldest son
turned up from university unexpectedly just for the day. We were
going to go on a hike, but it would have been a hard one, and I
really didn't fancy making a lot of effort. So I said, "Change of
plans everyone, let's just go for a walk in the park, and take the
dogs to the dog park." Walla Walla park is right next to the river,
and has wonderful walkways with some lovely shady areas of mature
trees. It was the perfect amount of 'effort' for me for Mother's
Day. The walkway goes past new apartment complexes, Pybus Market,
and pleasantly landscaped office buildings. Then the terrain
changes a bit, and gets drier as you walk past a more industrial
area. Here you get a glimpse of what Wenatchee is naturally like
without irrigation. The drop-off to the river is steep, sandy, and
rocky. And here you can often see ground hogs. These are big
rodents that are well known. They form part of the tradition of
bringing in the Spring, and predicting when it will start. They are
nervous creatures, like most rodents, and certainly don't like
dogs, who tend to charge after them. Ironically, these animals live
right next to the dog park. Ah, but they have the advantage of a
big, metal fence in between them and the dogs. This dog park was
made just a few years ago to satisfy the dog lovers of Wenatchee;
it's a clever way to use up dry, unusable land. It's a very large
enclosure with gravel, trees, and a few benches. It's a dog's
heaven, as it's their place to socialize. And, as it is enclosed,
no one has to worry about dogs running off after a ground hog, or
jumping in the river. I think also that the dog owners enjoy
socializing with each other almost as much as the dogs do. So our
Rottweiler and Border Terrier had a wonderful time. We even took a
back carrier just in case the old lady, the Terrier, got tired and
needed to be carried back to the car. She did. So we strapped her
onto my son's back, and she rode in style, like a queen, ignoring
the ground hogs, and the less fortunate dogs. She's not a mother,
but she looked as though the day was all about her.
1. 'To fancy' means to feel like, to want, to be attracted to.
a. Gosh, look at that chocolate cake. I fancy a piece of that!
b. I didn't fancy going on a hike; it was too hot, and the thought of it made me tired.
c. I fancy buying myself those new sandals that are in fashion right now.
2. 'To tend to' is to be in the habit of doing something.
a. He tends to interrupt everyone when they are speaking.
b. I tend to drive slowly; I just want to be careful.
c. My grandma tends to suck her teeth after her meals; I don't think she realizes that she's doing it.
3. 'It's all about + noun' is a general comment (it) meaning that the focus of a situation is either a person (or some other noun). We often use it negatively to tell someone to not be selfish. It also has an existential meaning: the main significance/ what is most important.
a. "Thanksgiving is not about you, Johnny, getting what you want; it's all about the family."
b. I read the book in 3 days. It's all about health and wellness.
c. The exhibition is all about the artist's blue period.
d. It's not about just amassing wealth, is it? It's all about enjoying this gift of life, and helping others, right?