This entry is a tribute to our white-muzzled, aging best friends. We've all loved and lost such a precious one. That's why "Marley and Me" never hit it as big in the box offices as it could have. We couldn't bear to watch another great heart stop beating. If life's not fair to us, try dividing your life span by 7 and think about that! I recently got an email from an old friend who shared that his family's 16 year old Irish Setter, Seamis, just passed away. Seems that Seamis decided he needed one more good run, despite his creaky bones, stiff joints and sagging muscles. At '112' (in our years), he took off with his buddies and literally ran himself to death. Had to be picked up along the trail. WOW! What a great, great heart! Here's to you Seamis boy!
I have a few aging dogs who join us on our adventures. Beau, a still stunning golden retriever, especially comes to mind. He has an inoperable tumor the size of a volleyball between his back legs, so his every step is a bow-legged manuever to amble around this obstruction. But amble he does, keeping up just fine with the younger, more mobile dogs. He is one of my most avid swimmers, using the freeing properties of water to give him puppy-like movement again, even if for only a few glorious moments. I am thankful that his owner, Alex, doesn't religate Beau to a sedentary life, but encourages him to lead with his heart, even if his body lags behind.
Speaking of lagging bodies. Mine is doing more and more of that too, as time takes its inevitable toll. Despite my best efforts, my busted up foots gives away my Amos McCoy limp ("Gosh dern it Peppino!"). Manicures and pedicures are a waste of time and money on my reptilian claws, and my accordion spine is compressing without remembering to expand again. Dwarfhood awaits! Great. :-(
Still, like Seamis and Beau, I am determined to run it all off...to the very end. My son, Braun has a quirky sense of humor, so he cut out this cartoon and put it on the refrigerator. It has become my life mantra for the aging process. Poll-bearers beware! I'm celebrating life NOW...why wait?!
Though I dislike the disintegration of aging, I don't fear death. Especially as Easter rolls around again and reminds me that my "mansion in Heaven" is a bombproof deal! (Thank You Jesus!... Literally!) And I believe animals will be there too, with us, no longer ripped off with a 7-to-1 year ratio to figure in. Eternity is an equalizing factor for all of us! Forever is forever! See, I figure if Jesus comes riding out of Heaven on a majestic white horse, then there's got to be a stable full of animals to keep him company! Besides, by definition, how could Heaven be Heaven without our animal friends...especially our beloved dogs. Soooo, Seamis, Spunkie, Kimber, Max, Shawna, Blazer, Kelly Girl, Papillon, Midget, Bodie, and (you fill in the blank), keep watch for us in the celestials. We'll be there soon. Everyday is an off-leash adventure for you! But in the meantime, we have some poll-bearing rides to take here on earth!
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