I was walking Russell the other day when I met an Italian woman who also had a golden retriever. I was gripping the leash with everything I had in hopes to gain control over Russ so he wouldn’t make the other dog uncomfortable. She told me to let go of the leash and to trust her because she was a dog trainer and studied animal behavior. So I did, and she was right. We talked for a few minutes and she explained how a dog can feel your anxiety through the leash and they respond to that. I’ve thought about this for days now…
As we continued talking she asked what my name was. When I responded “Kendall” she said “Candle? Like candle in the wind?”
I always laugh when people, especially Italians, hear my name as candle. It makes sense, but the connection they draw is always poetic and somewhat funny to me. My good friend Jari’s parents had the same reaction when they learned my name. Instead his mom said “Candle? Like the thing that brings light?” Well shit, that does sound like poetry! I’ll take it.