Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's Fourteen (and Bye for Now)

According to an arbitrary date set by a vet, our Roma turned 14 last Monday. You may now refer to her as the Venerable Roma. Despite a few close calls—illnesses and run-ins with cars and rat poison—I knew she'd make it this far. I've been carrying the number 14 around in my head for years. I'd be walking her on a street in, say, 1998 or 2001, and I'd calculate how much time we had left. "Okay, she's 3 now, so that means we have 11 years left. Okay, she's 7 now; that means we have 7 more left." Now she's 14, and I can't think that way anymore. There are no more T minus zero years. And I don't want to set any more goals for her because, as I know now in my own senescence, that life is not a race. 

As you know, our Roma has had an excellent life and will continue to do so. My only regrets, of course, are about the moments when I was not attentive enough or when I got mad at her for doing the naughty things that dogs often do—running away, not listening, rolling in or eating the wrong thing. Those moments stand out despite the nearly five thousand good days we have had together. Roma has been my good girl for 13 of her 14 years. She has often been my best reason for getting up in the morning. I could not have wished for a better dog.

And so, my friends, I think it is time for me to take a little break from our blog. I have been working long hours recently, and I have felt a waning in extra creative juices as well as in my powers of Dog Park observation. At the moment, I don't have anything compelling to add to the Story of Dog Park as we head into a rainy fall. Thanks so much to everyone who read and especially to those who made comments online or in person. This blog kept me (and the Dog Parkist) going during months of unemployment and a brutally hot summer. Thanks again. Roma and Muzzy and I will definitely see you at the Dog Park! Ta!

-z

Old Dogs, New Tricks

Okay, so forever only lasted a day. Muzzy and I left Roma at home just one night. We had a fine time at Dog Park, but when we got home, I had to take Roma for a walk of her own around the neighborhood. Enough with all the walking. So now Roma is back at Park, but tethered, and when people ask me why she is leashed, I tell them "Because I can't find leg irons that will fit her tiny ankles."

We had a bad week, Roma and I. Granted, she may have had the worst of it, with the puking and the diarrhea, but I'm the one who had to clean it up. And after getting left behind for one night (one night!), she now is starts to wind herself up for Dog Park before I even finish eating dinner. When we finally get there, she hurls herself out of the car, writhing in my arms as I lift her out, which makes me frustrated and grouchy. I yell at her. I tell her that she's going to hurt one or both of us and then where will we be? I look and feel ridiculous, yelling obscenities at a deaf dog in the Dog Park parking lot. How undignified. 

So I was chastened and humbled when I read this blog entry by writer Dana Jennings, who has an old dog and also feels like one as he deals with cancer. My Roma is old now—she'll be 14 on Thursday—but she's a tough broad, and I realized, of course, that I should be grateful for instead of cranky about the energy she brings to the Park every night. For her, every night is game night. Go, team!

Take a minute and read Jennings' entry. It reminded me to stop and thank my lucky stars—for good health and good dogs. I hope you can do the same. 

Take care!-z

Roma: Banned from Dog Park

Warning: This entry contains grossness and anger. Proceed with caution.

Take a good look at that face, people, because you won't be seeing it for a while. Roma is grounded. She is banned from Dog Park until further notice, which means forever. 

Yep. It's true. Because, once more, I let my guard down, and she proceeded to sneak around the outbuildings and eat something that made her crazy sick--from both ends while I was at work. On the living room carpet. Right next to where I eat. And where I watch TV. And where Muzzy chews her Nylabones. I am not pleased. And I have no sympathy.

I got a frantic call from the dog walker during my lunch to tell me about the spewage, but I knew last night as I chased Roma away from the water bucket at Dog Park that whatever she was swallowing would come to no good. It looked like black razor wire, but I have to believe that even Roma has her limitations. It may have been chicken bones. It could have been anything. But I'm telling you, this episode was the last straw for me. In her long life, she has eaten glass (a broken jar of gravy on a sidewalk in Iowa City), rat poison (my neighbors' yard), ant bait (Dog Park), and human excrement (a park in lovely Worcester, MA), and lived to tell about it—although I have sprouted many a white hair racing her to a vet. I hope it tasted good going down because she's going to have to chew on its memory for a long, long time.

So, Roma sends her regards. She'll really miss sticking her nose up y'all's shorts sussing out those treats. She'll really miss having to give you the ol' paw on the knee to get your attention, too. Oh, and the dumpster. She'll miss it--and greasy grass spots--most of all. I know you'll miss her, too. You can write to her care of the Big House--where she'll be all alone during prime Dog Park hours. Muzzy and I, however, will definitely see you later. 

-z