More joys of getting older

Now that summer has given way to autumn, my perch on the stoop has given way to the couch in front of the fireplace. I have to negotiate my spot on the couch with Bruno Big-Lips, our Italian mastiff. "Ok Bruno, I'm so sorry, but please just scrunch over a teeny bit, please... pretty please." When I'm not negotiating with the dog, I'm apologizing to the cat. Doublewide mewls at me every time I walk through the kitchen. "I'm sorry love, what do you need? Treats? Fresh water? A belly rub? I'm so sorry..." When I was younger, my pets knew who was boss. Now I'm just an old fart, wandering about the house, apologizing to the pets, who are enjoying my "golden years" much more than I am.

Comfort and joy and pet therapy

Are you the kind of pet owner who gets your cat or dog a Christmas present?

I don't. I figure the scraps from Christmas dinner will be present enough. Not that we would ever do that.

But I'm sitting here in front of the fire, laptop on my lap, of all places, and old Doublewide is purring away right beside me. I'm running my fingers through her thinning fur, and she's enjoying it.

So am I. 

We're obviously enjoying one another's company.

Doublewide has been with us for approximately 8-11 years. We're not exactly sure.

You see, Doublewide arrived at a time when we had a deluge of stray cats congregating in our barn. We were new to Falling Downs, and a friend in town had a cat that just kept having kittens. Instead of advising her to research some possible methods of kitten prevention, we took 'em in.

Well, it's a farm in the country... the coyotes took it from there.

Doublewide well knows what it means to be a survivor.