Vito's Law

My old dog Vito wasn’t a genius, but he could hold his position in an argument. One thing he taught me was that nature really does abhor a vacuum.

He was utterly fearless when it came to attacking the vacuum cleaner.

But it wasn’t until this morning, twelve years after poor Vito’s demise (may he rest in peace, or at least not be reincarnated as a vacuum cleaner salesman), that I realized how profoundly he influenced me.

When Maggy asked me to vacuum the house before our dinner guest arrives, I said “Sure!” But my immediate thought was “over my dead body.”

When I told Maggy this story, she not only insisted that I push past my vacuum reluctance.

She asked me not to bark at the machine.

I’m going to try.