Reality is a tough meal to chew. Abbey the dog has been a model “child”. She barks, of course, incessantly, for the simplest things. She is not a fan of other dogs when she’s on a walk (which she loves). But honestly, for the past 12+ years she has been so incredibly sweet and reliable. That makes it all the more difficult to realize that the thief that is time has stolen some of her best steps. She can no longer jump into a car, she can’t even get onto the bed with a running start and a bench in front of the bed. She seems to want to go out a lot, but really does not seem to know why she wants to go out. We are fortunate now to have a fenced in yard but when we let her out she will sometimes just stare or wander.

Today she seemed very edgy, wandering around most of the day (even after a morning walk), and finding it hard to settle down. As I write this she is finally settled on the floor and seemingly asleep. The bottom line is our girl is getting on and I fear the clock is starting to tick a little more quickly than I am comfortable with. I know the reality is that we have them for a relatively short time and it’s never easy to watch the decline and maybe I’m looking in the mirror at the stolen steps as well and maybe that hits harder or maybe it’s just the thought that the her bed will one day be empty and that her harness will no longer be worn or that when someone rings the bell there will be no barking. It may be a long way off, but then again, it may not…

“There’s a time when the traveler is fated to find
That insight has turned his gaze behind, behind
And the steps taken yesterday will beckon again
And lead to his weary journey’s end, his journey’s end“. DGF 1981