I stumbled across a beautiful article in Country Home magazine in which a writer, Karen Weir-Jimerson, shared a gem titled "Old Dog, Timeless Tricks". She wrote about her 15 year old border collie, Rose, and how time has slowed her gait. Rose was an energetic puppy and no dog could beat her on the farm when it came to herding. But with the passing of time, it was becoming harder to recognize the slower-moving Rose. Karen went on to say...

"Sharing your life with a good dog is a wonderful thing. And because of the odd inequities of life spans, humans have the opportunity to live their lives with many dogs. Every connection that you make in life...even with a dog...teaches you something."

I always appreciate good writing and the power of words. Her article was no exception. Ironically, moments before reading this article, I had been sitting outside watching my two dogs play and remarked to my husband that it still seems strange (after all this time) watching the two of them romp around in the backyard that was once the home, and stomping grounds, of our three pooches that passed on just in the last few years. Kan will have been gone for four years in June....Shiloh for two years next September...and we just lost our Dandelion in October 2007. And yet, they're still here. The grief can still be so fresh at times.

Karen's dog Rose is a border collie and 15 years old. Our Dandy girl was a border collie mix ....and 15 years old when she left us in October. I miss my ol' girl.