Scottie's aging. I can see it more and more. Sure, he has moments, typically around feeding times, where he's energy is high, but most of the time his movement is slow and indicates the pains of decline. The inevitable course of all living things. It's something I feel compelled to acknowledge as I watch while walking parallel, literally and metaphorically, along the same path. He's the same dog that once leapt and spun and barked with vigor and abandon, dramatically slowed, wearing down, less inclined to move beyond the limitations his body gradually imposes. As mine does too. Or should I say, as mind does too? As the past month's efforts to take time on the eliptical and to hike and walk have shown, Activity and movement can improve and reduce much of these natural declines. Meaning we need to walk him more. Are we really that busy or really that lazy? Yes, but no. His quality of life, my own, too, are far better served by prioritizing that over so many other distractions. Including writing this. Time to take a walk.
