The Walk
The excitement is almost uncontrollable as I put on my shoes and jacket. They dance and squeal and squirm as I attach leashes to collars.
And then Jet begins to bark.
As we make our way down the alley to the street he bounces straight up and down. And barks. And barks. It is as if we have never walked this way before. His joy is palpable, even if it seems a bit disconcerting to those we pass by.
This is the Best. Day. Ever.
CM stops to mark. And mark again. She lifts her leg most times. It is important to her that those who come after know that she has been there.
I had never been a fan of city walks. I felt like we were a traveling gong show: the giant bouncing black dog on my left and the smaller one pulling in an opposite direction as she catches the latest scent. I used to feel like the entire experience was fraught with conflict and not worth the effort.
Lately I have felt a shift in my perspective. As the weather cools off and the daylight decreases, I crave a connection with my dogs that doesn’t revolve around training. CM is pretty well retired from all the performance events we worked so hard at for almost ten years. And Jet...well, Jet loves doing absolutely ANYTHING.
Walking is good for us. After a couple of blocks, we settle into a rhythm. The barking and pulling have subsided and we move as one along the sidewalks strewn with crimson and golden leaves crunching under our feet. When CM stops to sniff, we all stop. Jet actually exhibits a bit of patience as I use the opportunity to take in the fading gardens and neatly kept yards. I admire architecture from a century gone by and delight in imagining what the interiors of these beautiful homes might look like.
As we make our way back home, the leashes are loose and my heart is full. I know that their time with me is finite. I struggle with the ache of a loss not yet even realized. I lament the passage of time especially as it relates to the absurdly short lives of dogs.
But that feeling is fleeting, for they simply will not allow such nonsense.
It is, after all, the Best. Day. Ever.