My aunt wrote me today with some sentiments on dogs, the best being there is a reason dog is God spelled backwards. Our oldest dog, Rosa, is really getting old. She's not eating much, has a bit of trouble keeping it down when she does eat, and is loosing weight rapidly. She seems fine and is still getting around ok, but she has declined so fast this past month or two that it's hard not to brace for an end. And, it's really hard facing that fact again, with a dog that's so close. So, I thought I'd try and share some memories now, while she's still here.
Rosa is the most loyal dog I know. My son Andrew had an exchange with Amanda the other day...
Andrew: Pepper (our other dog) loves to be pet; she loves everyone.
Mom: Yeah, she does, Andrew.
Andrew: But Mom, why does Rosa only love Daddy and follow him around?
She does... always has. It really has only been the past week or two when she's been willing to leave me and go find a more comfortable spot to lie down. It drives my Mom and Dad crazy. They take care of her at times when we're gone, feed her, walk her, give her treats. Yet, no matter how long were gone, when I come back in the house she comes right to me.
She's still Rosa, she just doesn't do some of the same things she used to. It's pretty hard to get her riled up to want to bark and fight with me. And she doesn't really chase after Pepper much anymore. She's hard of hearing, well basically deaf, and so she doesn't cock her head to the side when I talk to her and ask her questions she can't understand. One benefit to being deaf, she can't hear Amanda and I when we raise our voices to each other... that used to make her very nervous and she'd go into the corner and shake until we reassured her. We always knew when we were in a fight because Rosa was nervous. But, she still has soft eyes filled with adornment. She is still loyal and wants to be with us. And, she's still here and can comfort Amanda and I as we remember all the life she's lived with us.
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