Edition #124 - My Pup Louna's Gratefulness Lesson

Ever since I started to pack and unpack, moving from the Studio HQ in Montreal to my Virginian home and now Morocco, I noticed something that I thought was a coincidence, until I emptied my suitcases upon arriving in Tangier. And what I’m talking about is the discovery of one of Louna’s toys buried in my stuff… What? Is this Louna’s conscious doing? Louna is not particularly affectionate, unlike Leonard, and far, very far, from how MacKaye used to be such a lover boy with me. She’s around 90% husky, so in other words, frustratingly independent and totally self-sufficient. I’m clearly hers, not the other way around. Or so I thought…

In fact, the previous occasions I found Louna’s toy in my bags, I didn’t make much of it… I noticed her favorite tennis ball when I unpacked my gear the last time I went to Virginia and remembered she had done the same thing before when I discovered a piece of a long-time destroyed plush toy she had since we discovered her tiny little broken pup body left for dead at the Place du 9 Avril on a chilly January afternoon. I thought it was cute that she had lost some of her toys while creating a mess in my luggage…

I initially figured it was a coincidence, but now I see the intentional gesture. MacKaye used to do the exact same thing when I was traveling, but I had a profound bond with him, which is not something I feel like I have been able to establish with Louna — yet. But still, I found it touching and special, whatever the reasons behind her stuff getting into mine…

In many ways, it reminds me of the utmost importance of cultivating gratefulness. Like Louna (and MacKaye before her) showed, gratefulness is a pure and purposeful act that doesn’t require any sort of sacred mantras or sacrificing ritual to embody, as much as it doesn’t imply diamonds and gold but whatever is significant for each and every one of us. Like in Louna’s case, leaving an old painting roll brush she couldn’t stop carrying EVERYWHERE despite the nonsensical quantity of toys she has to play with. She offered what matters to her, a sort of “I’ll miss you and don’t forget me” (that’s how I want to see it!).

Thinking about it this morning, I realized that writing to you feels the same to me… It’s my personal token of gratefulness towards you, my way to express how precious the singular relationship we nurture together is to me. It’s one of exceptional unicity, and connecting with you is important to me, essential to the joyful essence of my days. It’s my balance, my core, what gives meaning to every single project I have the privilege to give life to. Without that connection, it’s only noise, lament, and some inanimate nonsense. Our relationship gives life to what would otherwise be soulless, sterile, and transactional. What a terrible tragedy that would be… Love is intentional, never anecdotal nor coincidental.

Thank you for being in my life. Because yes, life creates life!

Your friend and brother,

Alex

PS: Funny enough, I had another looooooooongggg text written, but I wanted to tell you how precious you all are to me. That’s the foundation for whatever is or could be the rest of it!