a short woman in the elevator said lulu's ugly as she was exiting. i smiled but was taken aback, actually i felt it like a slap. i said to lulu, you are cute—said to the space of the short woman, that was an ugly thing to say. still shocked with a smile left hanging on my face. i told john and he wasn't outraged but found it outrageous, crazy. would she say the same of me? i'm thankful dogs are impervious to ugly comments, and to specious, errant and smug standards of beauty.