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It hit me a couple of days ago. Sure, I knew at her last birthday that Golly's thirteen years old. But a couple of days ago it hit me that she's really getting up there. Golly's hearing is getting worse. Or maybe she's just ignoring me more. And her sight has never been great. She's getting grayer in places I wouldn't expect it, like her paws. And she sleeps very deeply. But Golly eats with gusto. She demands treats for any and all behaviors she offers. She still plays as much as she ever has (which isn't much). She doesn't seem to have trouble getting around - Golly can still jump onto whatever chair she has chosen for her vantage point of the moment. And she expects everyone to treat her like the princess she still is.
On Tuesday an agility training buddy of ours lost her beloved 8-year-old Cocker Spaniel Becky to lymphoma. Deb lost Becky's sister, 11-year-old Brittany, to the same disease last year.Becky lived almost a year after her diagnosis. Deb (and Gus) were tireless in their care of her. Becky had chemotherapy and radiation, ups and downs. Her sister Brittany had the same devoted care.I don't know if I would have had the intestinal fortitude to endure their last 18 months. The ups and downs, good days and bad. Constantly monitoring, fearing the worst, hoping for the best. The stress on their emotions, their lives, their relationships must have been phenomenal.I asked Deb once why she kept trying, putting herself and their family through the treatment. And she told me that as long as Becky's good days outnumbered her bad, and she tolerated the chemo treatments well, as long as there was hope, she'd keep trying. That's a powerful testament to the love our dogs bring into our lives. I don't know if I would have made the same decisions Deb did, but she made them for all the right reasons. And I hope I'm never put to the test.
I've gotten older since the last time I posted. Literally. My birthday was on Saturday. So now that I'm officially all-grown-up, which I think 51 entitles me to be, you would think I would pause and reflect on the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. (With apologies to Douglas Adams.)So my new philosophy of life is: What the hell! I have given up caring what anybody else thinks of me and the choices I make. If it's what I want, it doesn't hurt anybody else, and I'm willing to live with the consequences - then Go For It, because What the Hell!It's a change from my old philosophy of life which was: Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.And it fits better on a Post-It.
Last night was the first Agility class for Ceilidh and me in about six months. I took time off because of my chronic hip bursitis, and then to make sure that Ceilidh's heart medication was working. How'd it go? It was like Ceilidh had been to class the day before and hadn't taken any time off! She sailed over the jumps, did the weave poles quickly - all 12!, climbed the A-frame, did the teeter (OK, it was low, but still!), ran the dog walk, even did a triple jump! Ceilidh had such a great time last night I felt kind of guilty for taking so much time off. As for me, I'm kind of stiff and I'll make sure not to miss taking Alleve for a couple of days, but seeing my dog so happy and focused was worth it!
It's still chilly here, so the dogs snuggle up to the heating vents to keep warm. Roc thinks Dax makes a mighty good pillow.
Here we come! After taking a few sessions off, I think Ceilidh and I will rejoin our Agility Class! Ceilidh's heart condition is mostly under control with medication. The vet feels that taking a class where she's used to the place, and most of the people and dogs won't cause her to become worse. And it will give Ceilidh much joy. I've also been feeling somewhat better lately. So, we'll see how my hip bursitis feels - whether or not I can run, walk or give some semblance of moving with my dog. And then try to walk the next day! So next Thursday will be the test!
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