The ferocity of the past winter is no stranger to any of us.
It was a bad winter, and the effects of it can still be felt and seen. Walking outside was difficult, unlike
previous years, in milder winters, when I could walk with the dogs almost
daily. I have recounted walking with
Brodi and Sunny on this blog before.
Walking the dogs is a huge part of my life. Most days, it’s a twice a day event. But now, well, time has taken its toll. Brodi is twelve, a ripe old age for a hundred pound dog. By all accounts, and a total of our daily
miles, we have walked the equivalent of
the width of the United States and half way back again. That would put us in the Midwest, home, right where we started. And it’s time to stop, to rest. Brodi is on the short walk now. He can make it down the end of the street and
back, but even those days are numbered.
He still wants to go, but there’s no question that the journey causes
him pain that can’t be relieved.
One of
the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is leave him behind, and go on a journey
with just Sunny at my side. The long
walk will never be the same again. Even the two year old next door notices that there's something missing these days, "Larry (sounds like Warry), where's your other puppy?" he calls out as Sunny and I walk by... "He's resting," I answer..."He's resting."
For now, Brodi is comfortable on his love seat, and we enjoy
every second of every day that he is still with us.
