--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me…" description: "\"“Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me off at the cul-de-sac. He was in desperate need of a rubdown. I gave it a thought but feared his bark and con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/harold-phifer-45214_abandonment_meantime-a-midsize-labrador-mutt-cut-me_2395273.jpg" --- # Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me off at the… ![“Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me off at the cul-de-sac. He was in desperate need of a rubdown. I gave it a thought but feared his bark and constant gruff. I locked eyes then noticed his black and white patches rotated with agitations. He yapped and yapped and bluffed mightily, but he…” quote by Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/harold-phifer-45214_abandonment_meantime-a-midsize-labrador-mutt-cut-me_2395273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/harold-phifer-45214_abandonment_meantime-a-midsize-labrador-mutt-cut-me_2395273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/harold-phifer-45214_abandonment_meantime-a-midsize-labrador-mutt-cut-me_2395273.jpg) > ““Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me off at the cul-de-sac. He was in desperate need of a rubdown. I gave it a thought but feared his bark and constant gruff. I locked eyes then noticed his black and white patches rotated with agitations. He yapped and yapped and bluffed mightily, but he cautiously stayed a safe distance away. Eventually, he lost all courage and quietly ran for shelter. As for me, I never stopped advancing toward my brother’s place. It took some effort but I serpentine and zigzagged my way through dandelions and fast-food wrappings lying in the yard. The closer I got, the more definite the sounds of dishes breaking, kids playing, infants testing their lungs, and TVs watching themselves became. Jerry and his wife had separated some time ago. Regardless, he was left with four adult daughters still in the nest. Obviously, the girls brought kids of their own to the mix. But everything unfolding before me appeared chaotic on the other side of that threshold. That entire scene grew larger andmore intimidating with every timid step I took.”” [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man navigates a chaotic, emotionally charged environment while confronting a nervous dog and family turmoil, illustrating perseverance amid uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Facing chaos while moving forward. Key Takeaway Keep progressing despite fear. Themes perseverance family chaos growth Mood reflective tense Type narrative personal When to use this quote - walking home - dealing with nervous animals - family conflict - urban environment Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain focus when surroundings feel hostile? - What strategies help you move forward amid personal turmoil? A Different Perspective The narrative lacks clear resolution, leaving the outcome ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandonment/) [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Kids playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-playing/) [Prophetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophetic/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) ## Related quotes > [“I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all… I'm standing on the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-keep-picturing-all-these-little-kids-playing-some-game-in-this-big/) [J.D. 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Or was I miserable because I listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-came-first-the-music-or-the-misery-did-i-listen-to-music-because/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [We're going to have more kids playing, and we're going to have a better chance of finding those players Minor sports in a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-orr/we-re-going-to-have-more-kids-playing-and-we-re-going-to-have-a/) [Bobby Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-orr/) > [There are more kids playing hockey, and the game has become more diverse from a cultural, ethnic and geographic point of view, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/there-are-more-kids-playing-hockey-and-the-game-has-become-more/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [When you see the kids playing basketball you see how big the sport is, you see how beautiful the sport is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/when-you-see-the-kids-playing-basketball-you-see-how-big-the-sport-is/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [“What came first, the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-came-first-the-music-or-the-misery-did-i-listen-to-music-because-2/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) ## More by Harold Phifer > [“The teacher pulled out a pile of papers. They were Bennie’s tests and homework assignments. Mrs. Lewis said, “Ma’am, here is the proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/the-teacher-pulled-out-a-pile-of-papers-they-were-bennie-s-tests-and/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“Being mindful of Aunt Kathy’s presence, I turned to reading the Bible while sitting in the living room. It was my way ofkeeping my aunt at bay. Yet, my facade didn’t sustain me for long. I got called to the dining table anyway. Next, I was told to follow Jerry’s instructions once we left the house. Then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/being-mindful-of-aunt-kathy-s-presence-i-turned-to-reading-the-bible/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“Thanksgiving is no time for amateur hour in the kitchen, but we were subjected to this Gong Show on a yearly basis. Aunt Kathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/thanksgiving-is-no-time-for-amateur-hour-in-the-kitchen-but-we-were/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“One other thing—she was always armed. Ossie May talked about her gun even more than she bragged about her cooking. 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Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/i-ended-up-sitting-right-next-to-sexy-patty-the-placement-wasn-t-on/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“I knew Dad was concerned about my past associations. I was from the Trash Alley. It was my community. I hung out with thugs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/i-knew-dad-was-concerned-about-my-past-associations-i-was-from-the/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“If a man was around when Aunt Kathy came by, she would berate him and throw him out. I even saw her toss guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/if-a-man-was-around-when-aunt-kathy-came-by-she-would-berate-him-and/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) [Explore all 9 Harold Phifer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) ## More Abandonment quotes > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [“Sometimes people walk away from love because it is so beautiful that it terrifies them. Sometimes they leave because the connection shines a bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-brown/sometimes-people-walk-away-from-love-because-it-is-so-beautiful-that/) [Jeff Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-brown/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. But they have not accepted - they have scarcely even heard -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/modern-societies-accepted-the-treasures-and-the-power-offered-them-by/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [Judaism is absolutely incompatible with the abandonment of the Torah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-schechter/judaism-is-absolutely-incompatible-with-the-abandonment-of-the-torah/) [Solomon Schechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-schechter/) > [“Abandonment is ugly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moore/abandonment-is-ugly/) [Michelle Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moore/) > [In our culture of constant access and nonstop media, nothing feels more like a curse from God than time in the wilderness. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-martin/in-our-culture-of-constant-access-and-nonstop-media-nothing-feels/) [Jonathan Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-martin/) > [“When you give everything, you have nothing to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/when-you-give-everything-you-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/) > [The only thing worse than being abandoned, is not being worthy of an explanation. It hurts to let go... but the feeling you're falling..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joryneville/the-only-thing-worse-than-being-abandoned-is-not-being-worthy-of-an/) JoryNeville > [“I am not so different in my history of abandonment from anyone else after all. We have all been split away from each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/i-am-not-so-different-in-my-history-of-abandonment-from-anyone-else/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [“The introduction to horrors so young impressed on me just how helpless and vulnerable I was. Parents are supposed to empower their children to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-enevoldsen/the-introduction-to-horrors-so-young-impressed-on-me-just-how/) [Christina Enevoldsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-enevoldsen/) > [Heartbreak has an archetypal core, all heartbroken individuals suffer from the same kind of torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginette-paris/heartbreak-has-an-archetypal-core-all-heartbroken-individuals-suffer/) Ginette Paris > [“Lonely Balcony The deterioration brought by weariness was visible. Its burden of abandonment can be perceived at a glance. The balcony ache with longings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqra-iqbal/lonely-balcony-the-deterioration-brought-by-weariness-was-visible-its/) [iqra iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqra-iqbal/) > [God causes us to promise in time of peace what He exacts from us in time of war; He enables us to make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/god-causes-us-to-promise-in-time-of-peace-what-he-exacts-from-us-in/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) [Browse all 348 Abandonment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandonment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Meantime, a midsize Labrador mutt cut me off at the cul-de-sac. He was in desperate need of a rubdown. I gave it a thought but feared his bark and constant gruff. I locked eyes then noticed his black and white patches rotated with agitations. He yapped and yapped and bluffed mightily, but he cautiously stayed a safe distance away. Eventually, he lost all courage and quietly ran for shelter. As for me, I never stopped advancing toward my brother’s place. It took some effort but I serpentine and zigzagged my way through dandelions and fast-food wrappings lying in the yard. The closer I got, the more definite the sounds of dishes breaking, kids playing, infants testing their lungs, and TVs watching themselves became. Jerry and his wife had separated some time ago. Regardless, he was left with four adult daughters still in the nest. Obviously, the girls brought kids of their own to the mix. But everything unfolding before me appeared chaotic on the other side of that threshold. 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