Thank God for old dogs and hot dogs

I should be working right now. But I had to interrupt making a living to write a moment about the joy of living, especially here in this place on our small farm.

I work in our house out of a small room that has a window which lets me look outside and see our little red barn, front pasture and lots of one paddock. And, it is sitting here at my window where I get some of the biggest smiles on my face.

Like just now.

This morning my wife Annette and a neighbor-friend left here around 9 a.m. for a ride in the state forest behind the farm. The forest has just re-opened today after being pretty much shut down a month for horses because of deer hunting. And, Annette could not wait to get out there again.

So, my first view was watching her saddle one of her horses, ride down our driveway to the dirt road that runs about 450 feet in front of the house, just beyond the far pasture. A gray morning fog was still hanging around, and as Annette and her chestnut and white horse rambled quickly up the road to meet her companion, there was a sense of grace and beauty about it all.

Four hours later Annette returned uplifted and invigorated from the ride and her horse was tired and wet with sweat. As I looked out at her from time to time through my window, she was always always moving. Untacking the horse. Putting the horse in the wash rack. Giving the horse a good shower bath and cooling him down. And then she released the horse to roam free and munch on grass in front of the house.

I knew when she left this morning it was without breakfast. And now as I looked at my watch, I saw that it was well more than an hour past lunch. She has to be hungry, but I suspect that eating is the last thing on her mind as long as there are other things for her to focus on.

Finally, she came inside, and this is what has led me to a second wonderful view on her world, another smile on my face, and this posting on my blog.

Probably because it was the quickest and easiest to prepare, Annette put a hot dog in the microwave. As soon as the bell rang signaling it was done, she grabbed it and went back out the door.

This time, when I looked out my window again, she was sitting there on the grass, munching on the hot dog, her horse standing just a few feet away grazing, and our 16 year old dog, Hammie, sitting beside her with an eye on Annette's hot dog.

As Annette ate, she would rub Hammie's head and talk to her horse. And, I said to myself that she will not finish that hot dog; she will give Hammie the last bite.

You must understand that a 16 year old dog is considered pretty old. I've had Hammie since she was about one when I rescued her from a shelter. It seems such a long time ago that this yellow dog with a crippled back leg stole my heart when she came into the shelter waiting room, hobbling with her tail waging.

Today, Hammie is doing well for such a senior. She gets lots of recreation and exercise here on the farm, especially with our three other much younger dogs who keep tabs on her and often include her in their games. And, she rests in her own private spots; one in our tack room underneath the saddles, and the other behind the hay bales in the hay barn.

And, this afternoon as I watched Annette and Hammie sit there on the grass together, I felt extremely blessed.

Annette continued to eat her hot dog and rub the old dog. Then, just as I had suspected she would, Annette reached over with the last bite and handed it to Hammie, who with great joy and appreciation took it in ever so quickly.

I smiled, and thought, thank God for old dogs and hot dogs, and a wonderful wife who loves them both.