A DOG'S "TAIL"...

The nice thing about time on the road between cities is that we are afforded the time to think, sleep, log photos, and sleep some more.

Thinking back to our trip preparations, we all, in our own ways, resigned ourselves to the fact that we may not be able to mentally prepare for all we would experience in India.

Most notably, MC voiced great concern around my (AC's) love of animals...and asked me to acknowledge the fact -- well before leaving -- that I would not be able to save any (let alone all) of the canines we saw.

I accepted this. I even jokingly signed a sheet of paper, promising not to stow away any dogs. I made sure to give our family pup a few extra pats -- and shed my only tears -- as I dropped him at boarding. I was ready...or so I hoped.

30 minutes after landing, we had already had our first "where are you from" tourist-to-tourist conversation, moved through customs and claimed our bags, exchanged currency, and met our tour guide. It was on the way to our car, that we saw the first 3 dogs.

Maybe it was the 36-hours of travel. Maybe it was all the new sounds, smells, and senses. Maybe it was blissful excitement. Whatever it was, I barely noticed those 3 dogs -- even when one slowly rose from its tight circular napping position to greet the flight attendants, who were clearly well versed in ignoring the recognition. It was only after boarding our van, that MM mentioned the dogs that I realized there had been dogs -- outside the arrival terminal -- almost as if waiting for something new.

Since our arrival, we have seen many things -- and we have tried to chronicle it as best we could, without missing the chance to live in each moment. As the cover image shows, there are some ironic images that simply cannot be overlooked. I missed the dogs waiting at the airport...but have definitely made up for it by capturing almost every other stray dog we see on the streets.

In the cover image, you may notice that, with my touring partners visible in the distance, near the base of the Taj Mahal, I was momentarily drawn to a dog napping in the memorial's well manicured gardens. What tourist hasn't thought about stepping in the lush green grass, but stayed on the proper side of the chain and post barriers? Yet here is a speckled pup -- opting for the white stone walkway -- snoozing away, seemingly oblivious to the thousands of tourists. Not a bad way to take in one of the great wonders of the world (if you ask me).

It's said that you can tell a lot about the disposition -- and current mind state -- of a dog by its tail. A happy or excited dog often greets you with a wagging tail. A timid or unsure dog has its tail between its back legs. A sleeping dog will most often curl its tail around its body, possibly as a very small blanket. The tails of dogs in India are different -- they tell much more of a story. A bushy tail is often found only on younger dogs. A shortened tail -- rather than the result of a breed's "style" -- may be a permanent reminder to not lay so close to the street. A hairless tail may be the result of any number of hair or skin conditions. But all the while, its pack mentality and survival instincts remain strong and, as you see a dog trotting down the street, it's hard not to notice a momentary wag as it approaches another dog -- it's as if the conversation begins with great news, like: hey, did you see that fresh pile of rubbish over there?!?

6 days in, I no longer feel small pangs of sadness when I see a dust covered female laying roadside, pups playing around her or a male marking a post that I'm certain must smell of who knows what. We are accustomed to these animals as domesticated pets, and our natural inclination is to make sure that any stray dog is reported and cared for -- I realize that is not the way in India. Yes, some families and businesses seem to keep dogs as protectors, and maybe companions, but for the large part, dogs coexist in the crowded, dusty streets. And at night, even over the never ending bustling street sounds, one must also be at peace with the natural sounds of animals positioning themselves -- likely around that "fresh" garbage pile -- trying to make it to the next day.

I will never claim that the countless stray animals are the most memorable part of this trip, even if I continue to snap photos -- ironic placements or otherwise. But they will certainly be one of many strong reminders of how fortunate we are. And, as we think about our return home, one thing I can mentally prepare for is greeting our pup -- who we adopted in October 2012 -- with endless pats, and if MC agrees, possibly another adopted furry friend before the year ends! :-)

(PS - Photos related to this post are shared in the "Dogs of India" album (#dogphoto).)