Canine Maximus

"My goal in life is be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am."  ~author unknown

As is evident in yesterday's post, I am focusing this week on really thinking about where I spend my time.  I had asked you what you traded one chunk of time for?  Meaning, did you read, work out, cook, laugh or work instead of sleeping, dancing, cleaning or cuddling.  Yesterday my bod needed some good quality rest and so even though I try to start my week with a bit of a work out, yesterday I snoozed. 

It's all relative.  While we were shopping, my furry pup was hanging out at back home with G&G's.  Unfortunately, it seems she had a bit too much fun and was in rough shape when we picked her up Sunday night.  Aura is one of THE sweetest, most gentle dogs I have known.  In February she will turn 10. 

Sadly, last night we had to bribe her with cheese to get her old bones up to bed.

This morning, as I rose, she watched me get out of bed.  Her big brown eyes, inquiring as to why I was up so early?  She snorted, rolled over and went back to bed.  At almost 70 in dog days, she is entitled to live life however she pleases.

Yet for some reason, I couldn't get her out of my thoughts.  I do see her improving since we picked her up and I recognize that her 'condition' is probably a combination of old age (Rotti's don't often live long into double digits) and arthritic joints and yet I feel haunted about all that she means to me and even more important all that she has seen us through.  Aura has lived with us in two homes, she has witnessed two new boys enter our lives and she was right at our sides, when we sent our first dog to canine heaven.

I know there is little need to elaborate, Marley said it all.  And still, I wanted to apologize to my faithful friend for spending the later years of her life rearing babies.  I wished that I wasn't near as busy as I have been.  And perhaps most important, I wished that I would have had the inner knowledge to know that trading time with my girl cannot be returned to me.  One of these days, I may have to check out of work early, toss mother's guilt in the trash and walk in the sunshine with my pooch.
 

Comments

[Kathryn]

I love this post and I LOVE a family dog - quirks and all:) Aura knows she is loved!

[Judy Hollingsworth]

Baby Aura's unconditional love for you is evident and probably the fact that you are present each day in her life is enough of a payback for her. However, I am sure a walk in that Manitoba sunshine would just be icing on the cake for her right about now. Gorgeous photo.

[Mollie]

Was just catching up, I'm a few days behind and wow, what a post. I am going to go snuggle my pooch and make my furry girl a priority this week. They demand nothing and in doing so, they sometimes receive the very least. Hope Aurie is back to herself.