Abby Sunshine

This morning I was inspired by another 9th grade Spanish class, this time the focus was cultural and the topic was Ancient Civilizations of Peru. As usual, my mind began to wander to Abby Sunshine. How would she survive in an early, bygone time? In class we learned about the long corridors and vast labyrinths made by people so long, long ago.

Sunken agricultural terraces of Moray, Sacred Valley. Photo: Mylene d’Auriol Stoessel.

Agricultural terraces, Machu Picchu. Photo: Mylene d’Auriol Stoessel.

We don’t know the rituals or life patterns of the people from this time, so we can’t say with certainty how Abby would have fit into such a group. I can imagine her loving to run around these places, now ruins, but at that time, what level of freedom would a canine have had? Survival was likely to be at the top of the list, so a dog may not have been allowed those freedoms. On the other hand, maybe now we have more rules for dogs- all the places that proclaim “No Dogs!”

I think that if it were up to Abby Sunshine, she would have fit in just fine. I think she’s flexible about her surroundings so fitting in would have been natural to her. Whether it’s modern technology or hand-built irrigation systems, I think she would have been happy to simply drink some water, not concerning herself with the vast canal system.

Current Day Peru- Some people hold fast to a way of living that originates from long-ago Peru.

I can imagine Abby running with this current-day group by Lake Titicaca. In fact, she may be in her glory, near some water for handy-access to swimming, among a variety of animals for friendships, close to a person in charge, and lots of terrain to explore.

Shepardess, Capachica Peninsula, Lake Titicaca. Photo: Mylene d’Auriol Stoessel.