"Squirrel!"

One strange way we interact (yes, there are several) is the exchange of new expressions and terms that came about through a mutual love of Dug, the golden retriever from UP.  If you haven’t seen UP you are really missing out, but to give you some context about what we are talking about, UP is the story of a gruff older man named Carl who fills his house with balloons so he can float his house to Paradise Falls, South America (it’s like America... but south) to fulfill a promise to his late wife.  He is accompanied by the stowaway wildlife adventurer, Russell, a 10 year old kid who  needs to help the elderly to obtain a merit badge.  More important than achieving the goals they set out for is their need to fill the gaps in their lives; Carl, the gap left vacant by the passing of his beloved life, and Russell, the gap left by the absence of his father.

You may be thinking at this point that this is a heart-warming Hallmark movie but instead this is a Pixar comedy (although the first 8 minutes are a real tear-jerker).  The light side of the story is provided by Dug and Kevin.  Dug is a dog with a voice collar on a special mission tracking Kevin, the exotic bird which is the object of Dug’s special mission.  If you have ever wondered what is going on inside the head of man’s best friend, the fellows at Pixar definitely made a good stab at it. Quotes from Dug have become a staple around our house. 

Consequently, in the mornings when we wake up we may look at each other and say—“I hid under your porch because I love you.”  When we want to talk about things we may want to do someday we might say- “I am a good tracker, I am on a special mission.”  For comedy relief during a heated discussion—“Squirrel!” 

All of this may seem quirky and a little off, but if I may be philosophical for a moment.  Dug is a beautiful example of unconditional love--- “I just met you but I love you.”  In Dug we see a perfect example of submission out of love—“Please be my master.” 

Dale Carnegie once wrote in How to Win Friends and Influence People that we should look at a dog to see how to really love people and Dug typifies that.  Though it seems quirky that Alex and I should exchange quotes from an animated dog we think it is a great part of our new culture and is in complete keeping in the spirit of this blog.  Omnia Vincit Amor.