That’s my old girl.

That’s Jane.

The length of time between playtime and naptime has significantly shortened even in the last year. For her, I mean, but the same could be said for me. Snowy-faced ol’ dog and her snowy-faced old dude. Both of us get all tuckered out a lot faster than we used to. It’s kind of funny, really. We are growing old together.

I must sound like a broken record already after 9 years of our partnership. She’s not the rescue, despite the time and cash invested in keeping her body up to speed with her unwavering spirit. I’m the rescue. She came along like she was dropped from Heaven, right at a time when I desperately needed to pull my head out of my own ass. I was lost and overwhelmed and ready to pack it in. Not suicide. No way. But I had a serious case of the fuck-its and that would have done me in more slowly and painfully.

I was the rescue.

She was overjoyed to see me home this morning. All that bullshit you see about dogs jumping all over their masters just home after deployment? Jane does that when I’m out ten minutes. She knew though that I was feeling poorly and was happy to see me. I took the day from work to be in that feeling. The thought of dialing again and again and again to have the same conversations was unbearable. Not happening.

I did take a long walk early this morning after getting in. Jane doesnt have the juice for the long haul anymore. We used to do ten miles and more in any weather. Now she’s good for 2 or 3. No more, my old girl. She’s lost a step. For me it’s 50-50. Some days I feel 18 and could go forever. Then I look in the mirror and see the face. Nope… 58. But there are days where it feels like the beginning of something. I wonder about Jane though. What does she feel? She was thrilled to be touched when she still looked like she’d been set on fire. What goes through her head when she wakes up all stiff and has to struggle down the stairs and outside? Or when she’s huffing and puffing after ten minutes of running?

Eh, now I’m just getting mushy. Cheers to my best friend. Thanks ol’ dog. Love you.