Doggy Playtime

  It is a rare day when the old dog, Mr. PJ, feels like strolling much less playing.  His old body is tired and exerting unneeded energy is a thing of the past.  We go out to do his daily business but the walks are slow and short.  He pants heavily making it back up the hillside from his self-chosen "latrine" area.  Once inside, he retires to his bed and naps for a good solid hour.  Poor old fellow.

  This afternoon, however, he seemed to be a bit perkier than he has in a long while.  Since the weather was relatively nice, we took a leisurely stroll about the yard.  At one point, he actually wanted to play "our" game.  From the time that he came to live at the Bayou a couple of years back, he developed his idea of "Hide and Seek".   I would hide from him and he would sniff my trail until he found me.  Then he would hide.  Or, at least, he would try to hide.  The old dog had no idea that most of the time, I could still see him.  He would hide his face behind a tree, in a bush or even under his paws but the rest of his body was highly visible.  Still, as I would with a two year old child, I had to make the obligatory "hunting gestures".  "Where did Mr. PJ go this time?"  "Where are you, Mr. PJ?"  "Are you over here?"  Yep.  I did all of those.  Then, he would "surprise" me by bouncing out of his hiding place.  He was elated with the game.  So, we played it often.  Today, he hid.

  It was good to see the old dog actually enjoying himself.  We did not play long but his one hiding spot was enough to make him feel like a pup again and that was all that mattered.  When he settled back on his bed this evening, he seemed at ease.  Several times, his tail thumped the floor while he was sleeping.  Yep.  It seems like he was happy.  Amazing what a little playtime can accomplish.