All of these dogs you see and many more not in the pictures are from eight to thirteen years of age, but that does not stop them from having fun. They may be not as fast as the younger dogs in our group, but they still love to run, swim for the balls and sticks and bark when they are impatient. A little grayer around the muzzles, but still as beautiful as the first day we laid eyes on them. Sleeping and resting a little longer after the beach walk. Every fatty tumor being checked out at the vet, with the fear, that it might be something serious. Jumping into the car or into the bed, is not as easy as it used to be, one gets stiffer and is not so bouncy anymore. Some of the habits are changing. They want to sit in the front in the car and not deal with all the nonsense in the back. If they were puppies, it would be funny, because puppies are slow, clumsy and young and they have their whole life ahead of them.
Few years ago, when Eric and I where out of town and my friend's dog was playing and running with the neighboring dog, I could not ignore the fact that Eric was getting older. He was running as well and trying to catch the other guys who where a few years younger, but he was so far behind. He did not know, that he was slowing down. Eric had just as much fun, as they did, he could care less, it did not matter to him as much as to me, that he was slowing down.
It just made me sad, because I know what lies ahead of us, but I enjoy Eric and the others so much, because they teach us to be in the moment, not to think about what could be, just to enjoy the now. Right now he is sleeping next to me and is snoring. The good thing is, that we have a lot of young dogs in our group, who will keep the old guys younger and more flexible and accepting and teaching the young pups what is up and what is down.
Woof, Woof
Sabine
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