Getting Older

  I was looking back through a some of my older photographs and came across a few of Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog.  These pictures were taken during late fall several years ago. Mark had bought a doggy jacket for her and it was her first time wearing it.  If I remember rightly, the morning's temperature had dropped to being a tad cool so we let her dress up for the occasion!  She was so proud and pranced around the yard like a little princess.  This was quite the comical thing at least for me.  In all my days, I had never had a dog that wore clothes.  Sure, when Ms. Ez had a terrible rash, we put a t-shirt on her to keep her from licking the medicine but other than that, no doggy clothes....ever.  Now, I had a spoiled pup.  She had clothes!  I viewed the jacket as just more laundry.  

  My mind wandered a bit when I was staring at the photograph.  I thought of how Ms. Ez was quite the spry little thing at that age.  She loved running, jumping and chasing anything that would participate in the game. Now she is older and a bit less apt to do much running.  When she does, it is an effort.  Just a few months ago, some young lads were visiting the Bayou.  Ms. Ez was in Heaven! She played like she was a pup again.  The ball was retrieved again and again.  She raced up and down the hill and then fished with the boys.  The sun drained her.  By the time they left to go home, Ms. Ez was exhausted...happy but exhausted.  I fretted over her that evening but by morning she was back to her old self once again.

   We are all aging but some of us refuse to believe it.  We do not let go of the idea that we can do what we used to in our earlier years.  Then our old bodies let us know.  Aches and pains make us regret our actions at least until the next time we get an inkling to do something perhaps better left to the younger generation!  Like poor, old Ms. Ez, we never learn!  The body is pushed beyond commonsense and we continue to do the things that are required of us.  Bayou Motto..."Just get it done!"  I figure the quicker I get things finished, the sooner I can head fishing.  Now THAT is a plan! (Ms. Ez, you can surely go with me.  We two old fogies will sit on the pier and dream of our younger years!)