July 27, 2009
“A year, ten years from now; I”ll remember this, not why, only that we were here like this, together.” -Adrienne Rich
It has been a wonderful summer. Cain continues to defy his illness and I am tremendously grateful that he is still with me. Our walks have become a bit shorter and hills are harder to climb. I’m taking lessons from my dogs and trying harder to focus on the moment. Paying more attention to my senses as my dogs journey by my side. I see my deaf dog, Bear, who has relied on Cain’s ears all of her life, always watching what he does, waiting for reactions to whatever he hears, knowing how fortunate I am to hear birds sing and the wind whisper through trees. I don’t put my nose to the ground but to the air, taking in the smells of summer, wondering what it must be like to possess their keen sense of smell. I touch their soft fur during a moment of rest and watch as Bear tries to eat an acorn she’s found lying on the ground. My mind starts to wander for a fleeting moment and then we move on.
Stopping for a rest
