OH TO BE YOUNG AGAIN

Oh to be young again
Oh to be free again
To be setting out
To have the whole of the road before one
To know it an adventure
One cannot know the end of -

Oh to be young again and setting out
Into the distance
The hero of one's own story
The adventurer going out farther than anyone has gone before
Into the great unknown-

Young fearless strong
With nothing behind one is afraid of
And nothing ahead too fearful to feared

On to be young again
As I never was
And in my old age
only dream to be now.

Shalom Freedman

 

As I watch my faithful companion slowly overtaken by the evils of old age, I find myself reflecting on those magical times of his joyous puppy hood. He was sleek and slender, alert and anxious, and had a real knack for attracting the ladies. Chase games were sacred; either through the yard pursued by me, deviousness with Geo our cat, headlong at the riding lawn mower, circular attempts to herd young children or supercharged lightning after an apprehensive cyclist. His hearing was stuff legends were made of; my heartbeat from 15 feet or a cheese wrapper at 100 yards. Although at times I felt he was the embodiment of worry, I realize he taught me a great deal about peace, simple joy, faithfulness, forgiveness and living in the present.

I often wonder what Max would put in his obituary. He never achieved fame, fortune or possessions. He never wrote a best selling novel or invented a printer that doesn't need expensive ink. I do believe he had discovered that which is most important: family, friends and love ones. In our typical self absorbed fashion we believe we are the masters who will teach our dog. Maybe the reverse is true, God put them here to teach us.