Otto Goes to the Hamptons

Our shopping adventure began at the Rugby store, where the sales associates made us feel welcome and sympathetically listened to the tale of his rescue. Not one time was he shunned for being a dog in a shop meant for humans, nor was his obvious lack of pedigree referenced in a condescending way. Indeed, differences are celebrated in the Hamptons. Spend five minutes sitting on a bench in any of the towns, and you’ll witness a parade of eclectic, colorful, and confident people, being who they are and living unapologetically. This is a place where my abandoned runt fit in perfectly. The more time we spent walking around and meeting new people, the happier and calmer we became. Otto seemed to be really coming into his own as far as his personal tastes were concerned, and nonchalantly sipped from some of the many water bowls placed on shop steps for the hydrating pleasure of canine shopping companions.  A few of the stores were a little bit too sterile or modern for his modest understanding of fashion and aesthetics, but he approached every doorway with a wagging tail. The high point for Otto was, without a doubt, the Ralph Lauren RRL store. The rustic environment was unintimidating for him, and there were plenty of vintage goodies to keep his nose occupied while my mother and I discussed such abstract concepts as prices and sizes.

There came a moment in the store when I knew Otto had truly “arrived.” A neatly folded pile of randomly assorted bandannas sat in a wooden crate on the floor. His bright eyes widened as I shuffled through, begging me to buy him one to adorn his graceful little neck. I sighed and knew that I had to get it, regardless of the cost. We left the store, and the sight of Otto strutting down Main Street in East Hampton with a RRL bandana tied around his neck put everything into perspective. Together we felt the warmth of the sun, breathed in the clean ocean air, and rejoiced in the aura of peace and optimism that abound in this part of our beloved island.

 

The End.