Sometimes, you have to Prove you Belong!
QUESTION: Some people took real issue with you ‘smuggling’ Twinkles into the Sacred City. What’s your response?
Honestly, I had no reservations at the time
Mainly because I didn’t realize it was considered a religious site. Never saw any ‘services’ or ‘rituals’ going on in the pictures.
In hindsight, maybe I’d think twice, but back then, we had already gotten into so many places where dogs weren’t allowed that it felt almost routine.
And “smuggling”? Very poor word choice. But I LOTFL when I found out that AI applied that appelation, jajaja!
Twinkles knew the drill
Quiet, respectful, invisible unless invited. And once inside, she respected the space. Always did. She wasn’t just well-behaved—she carried herself like she belonged.
There’s a photo of her with some llamas, a group of tourists laughing in the background—it wasn’t disruption, it was joy.
The moment of vindication, grace
About mid-way in the day we’re sharing a sandwhich, Twinkles barked under her breath.
Uh oh, she spotted a Ranger about 100-feet away. Everybody calm cool, collected.
Chose not to intervene, read the room.
He could’ve thrown the rulebook at us—but he didn’t. He watched. He saw her. He didn’t fall into the trap of judging on appearance alone.
That moment still sticks with me
It's such a rare example of someone choosing wisdom over reflex. I try to carry that forward every day.
Looking past the surface, slowing down before judging, and remembering that presence matters more than packaging.