I'm not a fan of hot, sticky summers. I deeply dislike the intensity of the sun shining down on me and burning my face, and the itchy feeling of a bug bite consumes my focus, making me scratch or seek immediate relief.
It's these common discomforts of summer that prompt me to focus my time mainly on indoor activities with air conditioning and easy access to a cold beverage to quench my thirst. But this summer is different! I have a new companion who won't let me stay inside. Her name is Athena, a Belgian Malinois-shepherd puppy I adopted this spring from the Spokane Humane Society.
As you can immediately discern by Athena's breed, she's a high-energy puppy who needs an outlet. So I'm ready this summer to set my dislikes aside to explore the Inland Northwest with my puppy-in-crime.
I want Athena to live her best life, so taking her on hikes to smell the wildflowers that grow along the hiking trails of beautiful peaks is essential — not to mention a great photo op for social media. It's also an opportunity to improve my own health by logging more steps while hiking.
Athena also quickly discovered a love of playing in the water while splashing with her paws. I'll also be on a mission to take her to nearby rivers and lakes so she can dive in and cool off.
In the meantime, I'll need to find solutions to ease my aversion to going outside by investing in some good bug spray, and buying a quality water bottle to stay hydrated with a cold beverage.
I hope my summer is filled with memorable moments with a puppy who feels she needs to sniff every questionable bush, pick up random sticks and pine cones, and chase butterflies down the trails.
I'm looking forward to this new motivation to be outdoors, and finding a cozy patch of grass under a tree where I can take a rest with my best friend. There's a special feeling after spending a few hours exploring a state park, national forest, or traversing rough terrain and, on the drive home, glancing at a tired, sleeping puppy in your truck.♦
