Buckley Junior

I named my Fitbit Buckley Junior after the beloved family dog we had when I was a teenager. He was an adorable pug with a face that made you want to either laugh or cry at any given moment. I was inspired by the walks Buckley Senior and I used to go on by the small pond near our farmhouse in Caledon, Ontario almost every weekend. It was where I went to heal after a bad break-up or a fight with my best friend, or when I had done poorly on a test – such small problems in retrospect, compared to my adult life.

My dog and the idyllic scenery were a source of comfort and reassurance that life would carry on, even when I felt unsettled. We'd sit there on the grass for hours, just staring out at the rippling water. 

I'd breathe in the fresh country air and pretend it had magical healing powers that would wash through me and cleanse my soul as I exhaled. I'd also imagine placing my worries on the leaves and twigs that floated on its surface – letting them gently drift away and out of sight. 

Buckley Senior just got me in a way that humans couldn't, or so I believed. As if he instinctively knew that this place was sacred for me, he'd sit quietly by my side – honoring my need to be alone with my thoughts. That is, except for the occasional low growl when he caught sight of a squirrel in the distance. 

He was such a chicken, and rarely ever chased after them as most dogs would. It made me giggle and provided much-needed comic relief. He died just a few weeks after my twenty-sixth birthday, and I miss him all of the time.

These days, Buckley Junior joins me on those walks, although they are far less frequent. At twenty-nine years of age, I am still single and working long hours at my software development job in Toronto. While my condo overlooks the waterfront, I am rarely there to enjoy it. I'm either traveling, working, or zipping around town, so my current lifestyle isn't conducive to caring for a dog. But I do hope to have one again someday if I ever slow down.

For now, I have to settle for a virtual companion. Junior can come with me anywhere and offers the added bonus of tracking my heart rate, activity minutes, and steps. I need something to motivate me to get out and walk when I do have the time. 

Otherwise, it's easy to swap sweating for sleep, or drinks with my friends. Walking helps to boost my endorphins and regulate my mood all day; the other options can only offer a temporary fix.

When I manage to wake up early enough to get in a thirty-minute speed walk before work, Buckley Junior and I head down to the harbourfront to try and replicate the feeling of what it was like in the country when I was younger. Being near any body of water helps me to unwind and think clearly. Of course, it's never as peaceful in the city, but at least I know my activity contributes to my overall step count.

I also try to walk home from work when it's not too cold. And my office has a few treadmill desks, so I'll sometimes listen in on a conference call while sauntering slowly at a pace that barely raises my pulse. Buckley Junior still tracks it, though. "Good boy," I'll say to him as he celebrates my ten thousand daily step milestone with a sudden, intense buzz on my arm. 

It's as close as I'll ever get to the excited bark and lick on the face that Buckley Senior would give me when he'd greet me at the front door after a long day. He'd also pee himself a little if he was uncontrollably overjoyed at the moment. Man, he was an awesome little fellow.

A Fitbit is certainly not the same as having a furry pal, but I make the best of it. "Let's go for walkies," I often say jokingly as I smile down at Buckley Junior who is wrapped cozily around my left wrist. He obviously never pants or jumps up enthusiastically at me – begging to be put on a leash. But he reminds me with a short "bzzt" to get up every now and then when I've been sitting for too long. That's his digital way of caring for me. 

I don't get to snuggle up with him on the couch as I did with Buckley Senior, either. Although, Junior will monitor my sleep patterns all night and report them to my iPhone app so it can measure whether or not I had a quality snooze.

On the bright side, I don't need to bring a pooper scooper or bag to clean up Buckley Junior's droppings. My sweat that sometimes sticks his band to my arm is about as messy as it gets. I also don't have to remember to feed him. It's a good thing because I can barely keep myself well-nourished most days, nevermind another living being. 

My refrigerator and pantry are often empty due to my lack of time to grocery shop, and I sometimes forget to eat lunch when I'm crazy busy at work.

Perhaps one day someone will invent a warm, furry pet robot that offers the best of both worlds. For now, Buckley Junior is, at best, my fitness and mental health coach. 

We're heading to the farmhouse this weekend for the first time in two months. It's been a long winter, and I can't wait to get out and smell the fresh country air while looking at the buds beginning to bloom on the trees. 

I've been feeling a little burned out lately, and I think this quick getaway is just what I need. Hopefully, the spirit of Buckley Senior will join us down by the water. We'll soak up the warm sunshine and tranquility, and wish upon the floating twigs to carry us along to a simpler time and place.