61. People Who Smile At Dogs

My friends and family are very sweet to me, and tolerate my habit of saying 'Hello Darling!' to every dog I pass in the street. They know, I think, that I can't help myself, and that the owners don't assume I'm talking to them. Or maybe the owners don't mind hearing the odd endearment, and simply take it as their due.

Anyway, I walked the length of Charlotte Street this afternoon behind a very smart and pretty puppy (and his owner) and for every person who walked past without a flicker of acknowledgment, there was one who smiled, or grinned, or stopped to say hello. While I hate to add to the prejudice in the world, I know that I like the smiley stoppers more than I like the others. As the owner of the best and most beautiful pooch in the entire universe (sorry Enzo, sorry Charlotte, sorry Sophie, sorry Amy - but it's true) I measure strangers by their reaction to my dog. When she was a puppy we couldn't move her ten yards down the street without being stopped for people to coo over her, and even now she's 10 she still gets her fair share of stoppers. She also elicits broad beams of doggie-lovin' pleasure from men and women she passes in the street, even when she gets in their way and seems to be trying to trip them up. A man once stopped me to say that I should have all her milk ducts cut out immediately as his Westie had died prematurely from cancer, and while his tone and message were abrupt and rather alarming I recognized a grieving soul, and sympathised heartily with his loss.

The point (if there is one) is that London moves at a furious pace, and we move relentlessly between home and work and home again without raising our heads. But amidst all the noise and traffic and endless, endless people there are tiny pockets of pleasure to be had - whether it's a dog, or a window-box, or a splendid outfit.

So the next time you're in the street, and a dog bumps you out of your city reverie for a second, give him a smile. You'll feel better for it.