Friday, September 24, 2010

I Am No Longer Young


I am 70 in my years.
I can no longer see out of my one eye.
My hearing is unreliable.
My breath is not always pleasant and I
grouch and growl at misunderstood sounds.
My nose is crusty and miserable with allergies.
I can no longer easily get in and out of a car, nor arise
from my spot on the sofa without a grunt or a groan.
I have turned grey and I am covered in spots and warts that
make me avoid looking into mirrors, for I no longer recognize myself.
I am snappish at times because my bones ache and I
have little tolerance for loud rambunctious children.

I enjoy my naps and my dreams of youth.
My memories of my family are happy ones.
I was rescued just as I was being trampled by larger
companions. I was quite ill and assumed I
would never find a loving home.

My family loved me on sight, nursed me to health
and I have been fed and sheltered ever since.
I enjoy a much younger companion named Howie.
I think I would be called a "cougar".

I am no longer young, but I am proud and honest and loyal.

Age is a blessing and a curse..
and a bitch like me..

Bitch [BI ch]
noun
1. a female dog

Please join Razmataz for this week's photo challenge - age

Justice


Create Change - The World Will Thank You
Project Genesis October 1st

31 comments:

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

What a beautiful friendly face that is. There is nothing reasonable in the way we can become attached to the hairier members of our families.

Have a great weekend
Sharon

Kom Achterom said...

he is adorebel!!!
what a druppie!!
happy weekend
Yolanda

E. Charlotte said...

I look forward to your blog posts every week! This was a great one! :)

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

Well, you are adorable for 70! I feel the same way at times:)
~Debra
Capers of the vintage vixens

gail said...

what a beautiful post. Having had rescued dogs my whole life and one who was 12 when we adopted him, this just pulled at my heartstrings!
gail

Sue said...

I'm such a softie for dogs. This almost made me cry. My beagle is
14. We are lucky, she still sees, hears and can jump to the couch or chair. She still grabs a toy and plays fetch...she tires more quickly, walks a little slower and sleeps more than she did when she was young, but she's still really sharp. I worry all the time that will change.

What a sweet picture and wonderful words.

Kit said...

Great looking "bitch" you got there......LOL Loved your blog! You always make me smile. :) Kit

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

I love your dog! I can relate to many of her ailments!

I am currently dogless...need one badly. Just waiting for the perfect one to come into our lives!

This morning my husband and I were watching a show that had a brown lab playing and I just said to him "how could anybody not love a dog?"

Unknown said...

What an absolute darling...crusty nose and all!

Jen said...

Oh my gosh, I love your post!!! It brought tears to my eyes (as my post is also about my aging dog, how I love her!) Thanks so much for sharing!

erin's art and gardens said...

oh boy...you have just brought back some very raw memories for me...we put our beloved Bichon Frise "down" (hate that expression) last year. He was 17 1/2 years old and it was very, very difficult. he had been old for a long time. i miss the old guy, bad breath and all.......

i am off to the beach and will miss your "Genesis" party...see you in october, my friend...
erin

Maureen said...

What a beautiful old friend. Of the best kind.

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

What a darlin post. I have a lot of those same symptoms! LOL.

hugs
Sissie

Robyn said...

Such wonderful heartfelt words for someone who is obviously one of the best friends you will ever have. It's written so beautifully! I have a soft spot for old doggies. I have a soft spot for rescued doggies. I basically have a soft spot FOR DOGGIES! ;-)

BTW, I have a CSN give away going on and I'd love for you to stop by...they have a GREAT pet section!

Olive said...

Ditto for me on the not tolerating rambunctious children part. There is nothing better than a much loved pet...a true family member, crusts and all. ♥O

June said...

Z I love how you write! Have I ever told you that before? Well if I haven't, it is late in coming. Your pup is lovely inspite of her age. I hope someone will say that about me when I am 70.
Your sale is over and now, no doubt, you are a wealthy woman and can now retire. Which means there is nothing keeping you from coming here and staying at the little haven in the woods.
Any time you like...
hugs to you...

The Boston Lady said...

There is nothing sweeter than the face of an older dog. And nothing more funny than one who refers to herself as a "cougar". Loved the words that accompanied this picture.

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Oh but what a beautiful, loved dog you are and you've captured my heart. So happy you found a loving home!
~Tracie

joanne said...

awwwww, sweetest post alert!! I'm just all mushy and teary now...nothing like a best buddy, Happy Birthday Pup..sweet dreams.

Razmataz said...

Beautiful. The charm that comes with age. Love him.

Rebecca said...

Hi there!
Nice to be back!
I have a lot of catching up to do in more ways than one but first comes blogging...ha!
Your post on your puppy was so sweet, I am sure we will be relating and not that far into the future. My dad used to say "growing old is not for sissies."
Glad your sale was a success, looks like a lot of work!
Have a relaxing weekend
Blessings
Rebecca

24 Corners said...

These amazingly, loving and beautiful creatures sure know how to dig deep into our hearts...your post and fur-baby are very sweet.

Please give her a pat & a scratch in all the right places for me...
J~

Evi said...

what a sweet dog!
It brought back memories of all the cats and dogs we had for so many years, all but one, adopted from shelters.
There is nothing like the unconditional love they give us!
By the way, I can feel with her..... getting older myself.
Hugs, Evi

Julie@beingRUBY said...

What a sweetie... although your vivid description reminds me of me!!! sans le companion Howie!!!

Acutally reminds me of my childhood dog that died when she was 17..... she still got around slowly.. protecting the neighbourhood children from bad doggies and watching over my family.. I really miss her!!

Have a lovely weekend Suzan.. xxx Julie

LaLa said...

Gosh.....you made me cry!!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Awww, I love your dog! All my dogs are rescues- my two kitties too and all peacefully cohabitate!

Romeo said...

Mirrors are never good measures of true beauty which lives inside. Don't worry about the mirrors - you've been around long enough for others to see the beauty of your spirit. That's much more important and evident they saw it the first day they found you.

Unknown said...

What a touching post! There is something so beautiful about old dogs. Perhaps it is the precious soul reflected in their eyes. Whatever it is, you certainly brought a tear to mine. Thank you for sharing your baby. I'm going to go cuddle mine now. Regards, Sheilla

welltraveled said...

I am 71 and feel like this often....lol

oldgreymare said...

well traveled:

I am 57 and feel the same way at times. If all three of us arise from the couch at the same time there is a cacophony of sound!

z

Anonymous said...

What a precious one! Aren't they just the most wonderful, rewarding souls we could ever be fortunate to be 'owned by'?