Dear Curiosity Journal,
Balio is at his best when he’s accompanied by both sheep and shepherdess, and if there’s snow on the ground, even better. I ponder the cycles of evolution which brought this beast into being. I envision the generations his canine ancestors spent roaming the Pyrenees Mountains with peasant shepherds protecting their flocks from large predators. The AKC history on the Great Pyrenees states, “The breed’s innate patience came in handy when sitting atop a freezing-cold mountain for days on end with nothing to do but look at sheep. Their courage when defending the flock was legendary”. I’ve entered into this age-old trilogy of shepherdess, sheep, and sheepdog atop a frigid ridgetop for days on end, looking at sheep, and it feels legendary, timeless, and curiously gratifying.
~Joy