Growing old is one of the many things you can’t explain to others, you just have to experience it, if you’re lucky enough to actually experience it that is. Your mind doesn’t seem to age as much as your body does. The older I get, the more I recognize aging in everything, but especially in our pets. It’s hard watching our parents age, but in most cases we can talk with them, understand how they are coping or not, and at least try to help them mentally. With our pets, I just see an innocent life long friend, at least for their life usually, who doesn’t understand why he or she can’t jump on the couch, run through the yard, or simply walk a straight line anymore. They look to you for their everything; food, water, loving, attention and in many cases their survival, but you really can’t help them understand aging.
Bruno came into our lives many years ago through our son. He spent a year or so living with us while our son was in college, so I had time to really bond with him, and we became friends. It was actually difficult letting him go back to live with our son back then because we had become so close. As we recently visited Bruno, and our son, daughter-in-law, and grand daughter, I watched sadly as Bruno slowed down from his rambunctious young years of playing tug of war with me and inflecting some scars I still carry today from our rough housing. He was a very loving guy, but was also quite a rough play friend.
Recently, we dog sat Bruno and Pivot while our kids were taking a short trip, and it broke my heart seeing the fearless, rough housing Bruno unable to jump and have fun like he used to. Watching him struggle to simply get up on a low chair, walking with much difficulty, and just struggling to get up and move was hard. It was hard on me watching, and I know it was hard on him physically. I would imagine it is hard on him mentally as well. Surely he still had memories of younger days just like we do, when he could rule the house, rip the toy from my hand, and get around with ease.
I’m glad I was able to spend time with Bruno those last few days he was here. I helped him into my chair when he worked so hard to walk over to me during that visit and wanted up. He laid on me and looked up at me just like we did many times before. He and I took time laying around outside just soaking in the times together and I know at least I was reminiscing about our old times. Maybe he was too, I’ll never know for sure. Seeing him was hard, but knowing the inevitable was harder I guess. Even with that, hearing the news that Bruno passed on November 19th, 2024 still hurt my heart. Even more so knowing our son, daughter in law, and grand daughter had lost part of their family that day. I lost an old friend myself. Rest easy Bruno, rest easy.
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