This morning was the first Saturday in over 14 years that I’ve awoken without a dog.
Previously, most weekend mornings followed a pattern. I would get up, not really late but certainly later than I do on work days, and do the usual morning routines. But then the fun would begin.
As I was tying my shoe strings I would sing out in a low but slowly rising tone of voice, “Niiii—iiiick. Norrrrr-ah!”
At the first “nnn” sound, two furry little heads would pop up from sleep. By the time I finished calling Nora’s name, she would be on her feet and alert, with Nick following.
“Who wants…to go…for a ride? In the CAR? TO THE PARK?!?!?”
Joyful dog yips and whines and barks would rise to a crescendo and then Nora would all but run over Nick in her dash to the doggie ramp that leads off the bed. Nick, maybe still a little sleepy and definitely more careful since he has been blind all his life, would follow his sister down the ramp.
Collars applied and a bridge leash attached, the two frisky mixed spaniels would be led to the door and out to the car. Nora is blind, too, but that never slowed her down and in her excitement to get to the car there would usually be a couple collisions with walls, doors, or my legs.
Over time and a move across the country, we have had several “favorite” parks. In San Antonio we usually took our weekend walks at Eisenhower Park or Hardberger Park. Nice big parks with paved paths wandering through typical Hill Country trees and scrub. Leading two blind dogs is much easier on a paved trail than one which isn’t.
When we moved to Maryland we found Veirs Mill Park not far from our new home. Not large, but winding through much taller trees than Texas, and ones with spectacular fall colors. But as the pups grew older Nick, especially, wasn’t able (or willing) to go the the multi-mile weekend walks. We found St. Paul Park around the corner, with a circular, eighth of a mile path just inside a border of trees and outside the center lawn.
Even with the much shorter path, the pace gradually reduced until it was a slow spaniel mosey. But until just a few weeks ago, Nick always would do his lap.
Nora passed a year ago Thursday. She was 18. We lost Nick this past Monday, aged 17.
This morning when my eyes opened, I knew I wanted one more time to go for a ride. In the car.
To the park.
