This summer it's been so hot around the old homestead that the wear and tear is sure showing on Key. The last 12 months have been hard for that ole dog. A trip to Alaska and back, a nose dive out on the freeway in Houston, and then being lost for 10 days wondering where the heck he was, and then when he finally gets back home, he gets operated on for a root canal. But, Key is such a good, friendly dog that I just like having him around. Over the years, he has developed a sense of responsibility not only for the property (territory), but also to Linda and me and especially Juliet. This is demonstrated quite clearly every morning when I hear a little chirping sound in my ear about 7AM. As I turn over to see Key sitting there with his mouth half open breathing a gentle "pant", which is a smile (to me), I know he's telling me it's time to open the back door. Somewhere close by is Juliet. She chooses to stand either close to the back door or just out of sight and let Key do the task of getting me out of bed. As I get out of bed and move to the back door, Key always stops and lets me exit the bedroom first and follows me to the back door. Many times, most of the time, Key follows Juliet out and will just stands or sits on the patio, watching Juliet scamper into the back yard and when she is finished and heads back into the house through the dogie door on the storm door, Key will slowly get up and follows her back into the house. I would love to know the communication that goes on between those two dogs.

I know that someday this will end. It has before. It's the way that it is and we can't change it. We have had many dogs, loyal and devoted ones that loved and was loved the same way that Key and Juliet are. We have to learn and be ready to accept the fact that someday they (or we) won't be around anymore. So the devotion and love they give to us I want to return to them. I want our time together to be as much as possible.

As some may know, Baxter Black is one of my favorite Cowboy Poets and I was particular moved by a video he did when he lost his dog. I hope you will take a look at it:

Baxter Black's "Just A Dog"