Winter through Keno's eyes

Just the other day it snowed for the first time this fall/winter season. To college students the snow means it’s time to pull out their boots and long winter jackets, in order to make the walk to class a little more bearable. To high school students the snow means there is a greater chance of snow days. It also means bundling up for classes; because in high school they seem to wait as long as they can without turning on the furnaces. To children the snow is another toy. It is something to shape into snow men, forts, and angels. For the parents of those children the snow means purchasing new snow equipment for kids, and paying more to heat the house.  These of course are all generalizations. For some people snow brings happiness, while others dread its arrival. It can be both beautiful and dangerous, all at the same time. It can bring mixed emotions for many, including myself.

                When the snow arrived this year I had two thoughts. One of those thoughts was I’m glad that it is already the end of the semester; because there is nothing enjoyable about walking to class in the snow. The other thought I had was, I can’t wait to let Keno outside, because I know how excited he is going to be. Keno is my brother’s dog; but he is more like a family dog. My brother got keno a little over a year ago and he has brought so much joy to our lives. He is a beautiful miniature Australian shepherd. He is very shy, and gets very scared around new people, but he loves my family. I think this makes us like him even more. His reaction, when he sees me or one of my family members, is priceless. Keno spends almost half of his time at my parent’s house because my brother works and attends school full time. Last year we learned that Keno was a big fan of the snow! He loves it so much! I dread going outside in the cold, but his excitement makes it almost worth it.

                To Keno the snow is something to be celebrated. When he goes outside he will run, dig, or just lay down; but no matter what he does, you can tell he is enjoying it. The excitement illuminates from his cute, little face. The first thing he does when he arrives at my parent’s house is run to his toy basket (yes, he has a toy basket at “Grandma’s” house).  He grabs a Frisbee out of the toy basket and hustles over to the door. He wants to go outside and play. He does this no matter what the weather is (unless it is raining, he doesn’t like the rain). But when it is snowing he will stay outside as long as he can and play. The snow even makes it so that he will play by himself. He tosses the Frisbee himself with his mouth and retrieves it out of the snow using his paws and mouth. He can, and will, entertain himself with this for as long as someone will stay outside with him. To keno the snow is not a nuisance. To Keno the snow is a magical substance that adds to the already exciting place, that is our back yard.