what goes up must find a way to come down

the last time we were at the coast, atlas decided to go on a little adventure. while i was taking photos of the ocean, he climbed up the slippery smooth rock face at the end of the beach and was clambering about.

except then he couldn't get down. the rock face was wet and slippery (i don't even know how he got up there - except that up is always easier than down) and when he'd take a step onto the slope to start his descent, he'd slip a little and stop immediately. his eyes lost their happy gleam and he began to look a bit worried.

what was a loving person to do? "oh, atlas. you look so cute and sweet and worried up there. stay, little puppy, and let me take some photos." (i know. heartless.)

anyway, after the photo-ing was finished, i tried to help him out. except that i couldn't get up there with him and i could barely reach his collar from where i was standing. so there i am .. standing on tip-toe .. barely holding onto his collar with the fingertips on one hand and touching his chest with the fingertips on the other .. trying to convince him to take a step forward with a promise that if he just comes closer, i can lift him down. oh, did i mention that i had an audience?

finally he took a big step forward and leaped to safety.

let us hope that this is the last time he goes cliff-jumping. i am just not cut out for this.

Comments

[Marcie]

My dog has gotten herself stuck up on rocky crevices. Scarey...but somehow she's always managed to get herself out! Great pic!!!

[Kim Mailhot]

This made me laugh - Silly Pup ! But it was a fantastic photo op !
Thanks for the smile on a day when I needed one badly.

[Gayle]

I can just picture his sweet face going from happy to worried. I'm glad he got himself down okay.

[Julie M.]

Oh, poor pup. I can just picture it! What a kind mama you are to try help him out. :)

[chrissy]

dearest elizabeth.
it is not a coincidence that your middle name is ANN!
how perfect for you. i KNEW it. i could just tell. that last night in manzanita, how we sat together and you were just so sweet and nurturing and kolleen told me how you comforted her so sweetly when she heard her son had been rushed to the hospital!!!
you ARE AN ANN in my book sister.
love it.
also loving this photo of atlas. the colors? you need to enter this in some sort of contest. not sure which kind as of yet, but it is definitely a winner girlfriend.
love you so much.
thanks for staying close by.
c

[Meredith]

Atlas does look so anxious in this pic. I am glad you got him to safety. It somehow reminds me of the first time one of my cats made it way up a tree and then started to try and back down. There's something comical about it -- even while you feel a teeny bit worried as the pet momma, you can't help smiling and finding their predicament kind of cute. (It would be different, of course, if they were ever in real danger.)

[Relyn]

This story reminds me of those adorable pictures "heartless" mothers snap of their babies crying.

[margie]

makes me think of when charley jumps out of the boat before we are close enough to the dock and falls between the dock and the boat, looking up with panic eyes.

[elizabeth @ retinal perspectives]

@margie: oh no! poor charley!

@relyn: those are good photos. ;)

@meredith: i'm so glad dogs can't climb trees. ;) i watched tinkerbell try to climb a tree once - i was silently saying, "be careful! be careful!" i imagine your kitty made it down safe and sound!

@chrissy: i know! i totally lucked out with the rock colors here. :)

@julie: well .. it sort of seems like i was giving him false hope. because there was no way i really could have lifted him from above my head!

@gayle: me too.

@marcie: good for her!