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We can get wrapped up in our lives. And easy.

I know I do it. A lot. I cannot tell you how many times I have found myself planning for tomorrow that I lose sight of today. Preparing for the next assignment. Planning the next big thing that I am going to be part of.

It is easy when drinking the coffee of success to not smell the toast burning.

Well, this past week, I got a good whiff of it.

For those of you following this column, I have an older dog named Jada. She is the boy’s mother. Back in December of 2015, she got out and in February of 2016, we had the boys.

That in itself is another story for another time.

I noticed that her steps are a little slower, she doesn’t jump up as much as she used to. She sleeps far more than ever before.

That was my toast burning moment.

I thought back to 2006 when we got her. For me, it was love at first sight.

My wife took more convincing. At first, it was, we cannot keep her. Then it was we can keep her, but she has to sleep outside. Then it was she can sleep inside, but not in the bedroom.

Followed by in the bedroom, but not on the bed. Now she has her side of the bed and her own blanket.

My wife has adopted her as her little girl.

But when I was looking into Jada’s eyes last week, I had my toast burning moment.

There will come a day I will not be kicked at night in bed when she stretches out. A day where I cannot take her out in the middle of the pouring rain because she has to go to the bathroom.

Gone will be the whining when she wants up on the bed. The pawing and the looks when I am eating that leads me to hand her some of my food.

And when that day comes, I will give anything to have those moments of exasperation back.

I do not want to be filled with regrets on top of loss.

That was my toast burning moment. So, I hug her every chance I get. Nuzzle her ears and love on her whenever I can.

The love of a dog is a wonderful thing. We take advantage of the love of our dogs. To them, we are the whole world and their whole life. To us, they are here for a moment, and then we are left with a hole in our hearts.

So, my friends, love your senior dog. Let him or her know every day they are a cherished friend and family member.

Do not wait until it is too late.

Wake up and smell the toast burning before it’s too late.

 

Michael Cole is a syndicated columnist that when he is not writing, he is plotting global domination. You can follow him at www.storyoveracup.com