31 Paintings in 31 Days - Day Twenty-One

"Bus Rider" - watercolor on paper, 9" x 14"

Meet Eclipse.  She rides the bus.  To the dog park.  In Seattle.  By herself.

This story was first shared with me by a friend who used to live in Seattle and follows the Seattle news.  Then I had an article from another source pop into my inbox featuring the same dog.  I immediately assumed she was talking to me, so I decided to paint her.

Apparently, Eclipse knows which stop is the dog park, and prefers a window seat (arguably so she can watch for her stop).  She is well mannered and minds her own business like any urbanite on public transportation should.  How did she happen to become a solo rider?  As the story goes, her owner normally rode the bus with her to the dog park, but one day took too long on a cigarette break.  When the bus pulled up, Eclipse decided to head to the park without him and got on the bus.  Her owner caught up with her at the park later.  But now she can do it herself.  And will.

Now we've all heard tales of animals accomplishing amazing feats, transversing great distances to find their way home and so forth.  But to this day, this is the first I've heard of an animal successfully navigating the public transit system.  Hey, even I can't read a bus schedule without getting a headache, and forget it if I have to switch buses to get where I am going.  Yet Eclipse is a veteran of this very human means of getting around.  And she's cute.

So is there a message in Eclipse's story for me?  You betcha.  If you want to get somewhere real badly, and you think you kind of have a clue how you might get there, get on the bus and go.  Be polite along the way.  And at the end of the ride, there just might be a lush green area filled with friends waiting to spend time with you.  Namaste, Eclipse.  Namaste.

This piece is available, framed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com