Aging Gracefully

This post is about my dog, Maggie. Pet posts are always safe. Besides, it is National Pet Day; not to be confused with International Dog Day which occurs on August 26.

When Stubby passed. I did not want to replace her right away. Actually I decided I did not want another dog. Watching them die was just too painful.

2017 came. I sold my bikeshop, quit smoking and discovered I was hard into fighting another tick borne disease. I dropped into Depression mode. My wife decided what I needed was another dog. She found one at a local shelter; a four year old bitch from a puppy mill somewhere south of the Mason Dixon Line. She thought we two might get along. I was skeptical, but in respect to her efforts on my behalf, "Okay, okay, let's check her out." 

I would go through the motions.

I will always remember our first encounter at the Kennebunk Shelter. BA went into the place to get Maggie while I sat on a bench in the cold and waited. She handed the leash to me: 

"Take her for a walk, I have to fill out the papers." 

I had not yet said okay, but said nothing. Maggie sat down near me, but not next to me. The leash was stretched out.. We looked at each other for some moments sizing each other up I guess.

I stood up. Maggie stood up. Good start I thought. She was the right size and seemed even tempered. I wondered how many litters she had to endure before she picked up heartworms and the puppy mill got rid of her. All the while she just looked at me. When I looked at her, she responded with a tentative tail flick, but not much else. No barking, no sounds at all.

I began to walk. She caught on immediately and kept pace with me. When I stopped, she stopped. Cool, at least one of us seems to know how to walk a dog. I certainly was not good at it. All of our dogs to that point very rarely had to endure a leash. We live in the sticks and voice commands work most of the time.

That day turned into a nine year mutual love affair. Like every pet we have shared our lives with, Maggie was unique combination of the times and trials in her life before we hooked up. She decided she loved me and gives me a daily hump to show her affection. I did not know female dogs carried on like brain dead males. Learn something everyday. Life is like that if we pay attention.

Keep it 'tween the ditches ..............................................

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How's the Yardwork going - So far, 20 plus hours and a trailer full of pucker hauled to the dump.

Tomorrow, I start on the mess roadside. 

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I immediately thought of Charlie Parr's song "Dog". Enjoy.