Adriana's Ears

Adriana at sixteen weeks

When I feel deflated, do you know what cheers me up?

Adriana’s ears.

Most of the time Ade, our four-month-old mutt, wears her ears – velvety soft, caramel hued – cockeyed, as though she hasn’t decided which direction suits her best.

For instance, yesterday afternoon, as leaves sprinkled from the coloring trees, she gazed over the yard, listening to the chestnuts’ solid per-plunks as they dropped to the earth. Each ear moved to the sound of the falling nuts, but the right dangled and the other flipped backwards, two symmetrical organs at odds, yet aiming towards the same goal.

Rarely, Ade coordinates her look, wearing both ears in the same direction, but these spurts of harmony happen the most when she’s sprinting, wrestling, or sleeping, like accidental by-products of her abandonment.

Here’s a photo essay of Adriana’s favorite ear poses. I promise they’ll make you smile.