 Kate, in the foreground, is our 13-year-old Sheprador. You see that intent look on her face? That is Kate’s perpetual condition. Along with intense eye contact, she breathes in rapid pants, even when nothing is happening, because maybe something might happen any second now. If you calculated a dog’s lifetime by number of breaths, Kate would be the oldest dog in history. Her back legs teeter and sometimes collapse. She can’t back up any more. I spot her on stairs. Tall grass entangles her. We lift her into the car. She seems okay with it, so far.
Clara is our 11-year-old mish-mash dog in the background. See that vacant look? That’s pretty much it. She is very dear, and stupid. She also has inexplicable alpha powers over other dogs. She no longer jumps higher than my head, but everything still works. Our walks are slower than they were ten years ago, but there is no loss of enthusiasm. I’m happy they’re here to take part in my 60th year. 169 words = TOTAL 479
1 Comment
Lois Wood
4/16/2020 11:14:14 pm
Clara’s not really dumb — she’s just relaxed about life! They are two lovely dogs — and seeing them outdoors cavorting with Robin is a joy. Everything about Robin is a joy — she an ongoing lesson of how to live gently and happily — she is a wonderful mother and a superb daughter-in-law. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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AuthorRobin Clifford Wood is an award-winning author, poet, and writing teacher. She lives in central Maine with her husband, loves to be outdoors, and enjoys ever-expanding horizons through her children, grandchildren, and granddogs. Archives
September 2023
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