El Inocente

 

I call him "El Inocente", the innocent one. He's 10 1/2 now, but retains the childlike innocence and wonderment of a puppy. Everyone is a potential friend, albeit greeted with slightly less enthusiasm, every situation assumed to be safe and fun. This face is never cynical, never disappointed. 

In his life, Lucky hasn't known anything but happiness and niceness and love. Lucky thinks human hands can only impart affection and other good feelings. He has a good vocabulary of words and phrases he understands, and apart from two severe ones, "Dare you!" and "Lucky Harries Dagger!", they all fall into the categories of love, praise, and soothing. He has so many character traits and qualities, and every one of them is good; devotion, love, silliness, curiosity, humour, adventurousness, and mindfulness among them. His approach to living is an inspiration. He's a four legged life coach, the living embodiment of all that is good and worthwhile in life, and I've no doubt about one thing. My life wouldn't be where it is today if I'd never been given the chance to know and live with him. 

I said right this from the beginning, I wanted him to have a life with people, dog friends, going places and doing fun things. With minimal time spent home alone. A life of inclusion and coming with. And it's all happened. The life we've been able to give him has been the best possible life a city dog can have. And there's still more to come. 

I talk to him a lot, and these days, we're discussing our favourite things: love, happiness, and being together. I say to him "Lucky, these are the happy years."

Lucky At Twilight

 

   Lucky had his tenth birthday in July. His great-uncle, out first boy Truman, lived to the age of 11 1/2, which is the age Lucky will be in around 1 year. The slowing down process started a long time ago, and this year, we've seen the acceleration we were expecting.

   For many people, thinking about the impending end of a beloved pet's life is something to be avoided. I don't subscribe to this. I've lived every stage of Lucky's life fully and with open eyes, and I've intentionally borne in mind the fact that I would lose him one day. This is one of the things which keeps me present with him, living in the moment, and appreciating each wonderful day that we're able to spend together. 

   It also has the curious effect of seeming to slow time down, as I experienced fully in the happy last years of Truman's life. I was bereft when I lost him, but I had no regrets. I knew I hadn't wasted a single minute of his life. Since 2011 when Truman left, this sense of awareness of the timeline of life, Lucky's in particular, has sharpened. Part of the reason is my part-time working life and the increased time it allows me to be with him, but I think my age, I recently turned 60, is a bigger factor. The awareness of the fleeting nature of life, mindfulness of the importance of the moment, and a willingness to live intentionally and with love are all gifts which my time with Lucky has magnified.

   We're about to head up our favourite hill for our near-daily walk. It used to take 45 minutes round trip from our front door, even with all of the stopping to be with the friendly people who always gravitate to Lucky in admiration and kindness. It now takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, sometimes longer, and it's better. It's just one of my many times to fully be with him, and to completely live in the joy he brings to me, and the deep love I feel for him. 

   This was Lucky at 7am today. 

 

   

  

Catching Up

    

   I know it's been a long time since we've posted, but in truth, things have been so samey, good but samey, I haven't really had anything to report.

   But Lucky really did enjoy this last lockdown, maybe even more than the first. He and I were together constantly. And one happy result of cover is that I no longer work full time, so he and I have more time together than ever. He's really only home on his own on a Monday. His other Dad has his summer holidays starting in a week, and that's always a very happy time for Lucky. 

   But as he approaches his ninth birthday, he is slowing down for sure. We anticipated this, as he's so much bigger than the average Ridgie, but it's still sad to see. All we can do is focus on him, watch him and take every minute in. That's something we've always done. 

   Here is Lucky, the handsomest and sweetest of boys, lately. 

 

Happy New Year!

Lucky Lately

 

Now teaches online classes for other dogs in pillow management. 

Birthday Boy

Happy 8th birthday Lucky! 

Best Boy

Lucky in spring.