I totally missed it. I had been so engrossed in my own agenda that I was completely blind to the obvious situation unfolding before my eyes. For days, I had been looking forward to this moment, and it was finally upon me. Meatballs!
I know, it sounds childish, but I had prepared homemade meatballs a few nights before, just the way I like them. I carefully selected the mixture of meats, handmade breadcrumbs, all the right spices, and the perfect size for slow cooking. That morning, I prepared the sauce and put it all in the crockpot to slow cook all day while at the office. About 3:00 in the afternoon, while in a meeting, I started daydreaming about meatballs and couldn't wait to get home.
Walking into the house a few hours later, I could smell what was coming. Completely ignoring Louie, our 15-year-old golden, I went into the kitchen and started stirring the sauce and, of course, tasting it. Louie sauntered over as he always does when he smells food and looked at me. For the next few minutes, I kind of just zoned out, lost in my own pride and desire, staring gleefully into the crockpot and preparing the pasta I would shortly devour. Then I heard it.
The sound of water hitting the floor is unmistakable. When that water comes out of your beloved dog, it's jarring. I completely forgot to let Louie out! He had been trying to tell me he had business to take care of, but I was so lost in my own agenda, I didn't even see him, and I paid the price.