8.26.14 Walking Has Become Difficult For Her, But A Walk Alone Together? Heaven.

Walking has become more difficult for her, as I suspect it will for all of us, if we live long enough. 

So, after bringing the Shepherd up the mountain a bit, with the new belt bag of new fresh meat pieces, a great boon for obedience training, I return home , ditch him, and scoop up my old beloved old canine into the car, stroking her beautiful blind old face, the black husky mask and blue eyes no longer visible. 

I drive her down to one of the Hadley Center's quiet main streets. Shaded by massive 7 foot wide Maples, several of these peaceful streets are divided by enormous center greens- that at one time fed the sheep and the cows of the populace.

Lifting her out, I intermittently feed her bits of roast beef and turkey bologna, from the new training treat bag. 

Makes me laugh: me, the vegetarian, purchasing and cutting up into tiny pieces, then rolling up and freezing a certain supply for each day. But the training for the Shepherd works like magic. And delights the sweet old dog, too.

I ask her if she prefers the hard sidewalk for her sore old feet, where all the smells linger; and where she can read the news. Who and what, came along, when. Or possibly the soft and forgiving lawn, that gives as she strolls.

But I know the answer. She's always preferred the news, and all those opportunities to demonstrate her dominance, by peeing on every dog 's pee, ripping up the lawn with her bossy alpha paws, after. 

So we stroll along, as the setting sun glistens through the tall corn, past farmer's barns and the multitude of tobacco barns.

I run my hand down her red mini husky fur , surprise her with more niblets of fresh meat, and then she tires. Standing still. Panting, in the late August evening.

I stand, wondering if I should tie her to something, and go get the car, which is not too far away. But she may simply need to wait a moment, and then regain herself, which she does, and we slowly stroll back to the car, along the very center of the road, always her favorite. Not bad for 16 1/2. 

Back at the car , with more treats, she acts as if she's going to jump up into the car , which she has not done for maybe five or six years. I smile, catch her mid leap, and give her the assist. 

The car seat is uncomfortable for her now, so she doesn't usually like rides, 

But a solitary walk without that irritating young dog? Just her and I, like the old days? To close out a long beautiful day ? 

Absolutely heaven.