Friday, October 29, 2010

Stepping out into the world...

Starting over at the age of 52 after a 36 year relationship is the thing I never thought would happen, but here I am.  Yes, I have the occasional "pity party", and I step into the muck while trying to navigate the swamps, but like I tell other people out here in the ethernet.. they never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it. There is a lot to be said for starting over.  Sometimes you start from scratch.. sometimes you bring your baggage with you and sometimes you start with less than nothing, but you do have to start from somewhere.

I have never lived alone before and it is easy to slip into long stretches where you don't see anyone or go anywhere except for work and home.  That's where having dogs makes it better.  Dogs don't care about much;  food, water, a warm place to sleep, company, tummy rubs, walks...  just the basic necessities of life, really.  Unlike people they don't borrow the car, they don't spend all your money (unless you have really large vet bills to pay), they don't borrow your clothes, they don't lie, cheat or steal, they don't judge you, hold grudges or play head games.  They don't make promises and so they don't break them either.  Perfect companions except they can't really hug you back, but having a big dog lean on you is almost as good...  And who could object to "puppy breath", or that liquid look in the eye of a dog who isn't quite sure if they are in trouble right now, but they are really very sorry anyway... 

Unlike children, you can close a dog up in a kennel for 8 hours while you are away at work, and when you come home they are uncomplaining and ready for your company.  They are happy to take a walk to nowhere because the walk is it's own reward.  Rain, snow, sun, wind, day or night, dogs really don't care;  the objective is just to walk.  Most people my age seem to have more than one dog;  I ran into another woman on my walk this afternoon, me with my fluffy Pom, my Shih Tzu and my Chihuahua cross, her with a pair of Shih Tzus and an older Lab...  "You're as crazy as me..." she commented.  And yes... when it comes to my dogs, I am.

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