Cranks My Tractor

Somewhere around the 17th century the “Knave” in a deck of playing cards became the “Jack.” The Knave cards carried a “Kn” in the corner and could be mistaken for a King. A knave would never be mistaken for a king.

Except in the case of my “Knave of Hearts,” he might be mistaken for a King.

A knave is an unprincipled, crafty fellow. I know one, he lives in my house.

This Knave of Hearts sleeps in my bed (with my wife), lounges on my sofa, watches my television and eats my food. Does that sound unprincipled and crafty? Does he sound like a king?

Sounds like my problem, doesn’t it? Maybe it is. It doesn’t stop there. When I’m gone, he trashes my house and my yard and sits and watches as someone else cleans it up.

Knaves are described as “rascally” and sometimes as “hounds.” My knave is of course Doolittle, my oversized poodle who is now pushing 90 pounds.

He is in his twenties in “human years.” This might explain his raiding of the pantry and trash. Anytime he and his miniature sister are left at home alone for a few hours they have a heyday.

Recently, we came home to find uncooked noodles, coffee, bread wrappers, trash bags and fruit on the floor throughout the house. This is upsetting, but life goes on. It happens frequently if we leave the pantry open or forget to take out the trash.

My youngest daughter says it is “just their way of coping.” What is it that Doolittle has to cope with? He gets all of the food he can eat, water he can drink, all the television, the expensive mattress and a big yard.

It’s the loneliness. He needs us around, dogs are like that. Sometimes I think he needs me so that he can revel in the kingdom we have created for him. You know – kind of throw it up in my face. That’s ok.

Doolittle continues to meet me at the door and love on me and listen when I talk to him. Wow, he deserves something for Valentine’s Day.

Being lonely on Valentine’s Day can be very difficult, I know that. My Daddy’s birthday was Valentine’s Day, and it was always difficult on my Mama. They went to eat at the same place every year and she continued to do so after he passed away. Hopefully, they have a Red Lobster in heaven.

Then there are folks who just don’t have a significant other on Valentine’s. Some handle it well and others find it hard. I enjoy reading the online version of the local college newspaper “The Flat Hat.” The writer at the paper gave “Nine simple ways to elude loneliness on Valentine’s Day.”

The first two were both “Run Away.” I think they were to different places, but it was funny.

Can you run away from loneliness?

Is loneliness a location? No. I think you take it with you. Logically, you can’t run away from it.

Loneliness is not necessarily being alone, it’s feeling alone. You could tear up the house like Doolittle does, it just causes a mess and most folks don’t have someone to clean it up. What is the solution?

You could invent someone in your head, like an imaginary friend or love. However, this doesn’t work out so well. They can’t really come out and play. Maybe they can if you have a really good imagination; people would be really concerned about you though.

The solution? Rather than run away, you should “run to.” Run to your friend or friends, relatives and your pets. They are all good Valentines. Doolittle will lick your face, if you are into such things. I wouldn’t recommend it; I’ve seen what he eats and other things he does.

Whether or not you have somebody to spend Valentine’s Day/night with, find someone else – share your love. Call a friend that you know who might be lonely, call your Mama and Daddy if you can and share your love.

There is nothing like a Valentine’s card or heart cut of red construction paper or a rose made out of pipe cleaners, especially from a child. Tell lots of people you love them and if you have one that is really special, by all means get her/him something.

A card, flowers, candy, pearls, diamonds or a pipe cleaner rose. It’s the thought combined with the “I love you.”

If your Valentine is a dog like Doolittle, you are not supposed to feed them chocolate. Doolittle has polished off two bags of Halloween candy bars before, he’s fine. He’s still a knave, but he’s fine.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Come see me at www.CranksMyTractor.com.