Startled

Pavlov got it right I feel, conditional behaviour we never seem to lose This one revisits sometimes for me and dog, but over time it seems to weaken Last year we walked away from our previous life, only a few scars for both mostly external We are lucky, many have brought worse things home It was a different time not like now and we are far removed from that world A nice life, peaceful, secure, and then it happens, that world comes back with a littoral bang Perhaps when walking, drinking coffee in a café, enjoying life We both react, differently, for our own reasons, own motives All relate to seconds of fear, surprise, some shock I jump a little, eyes darting, body tensing, reaching for a defence Dog stands alerted, head seeking the source, ears like radars, nose aloft, a tremor of body Of course so stupid, I feel embarrassed, then relax, dog accepts my calming hand She returns to being just a dog and we try to fit back in, I laugh it off Those around us who know give gentle assurance, and then it is gone, our Pavlovian gift Until the next backfire, the next firework, the next hunter’s rifle shot I am not truly worried, knowing that it is old stuff, one day I hope it will leave us Feb 2022