TulsaPets Magazine November 2021

34 TulsaPets • November/December 2021 Handmade holiday themed bandannas, bows, bow ties and pet-themed gift ideas! Local Tulsa company. Made in Oklahoma pet products. facebook.com/g2td918 still very much in place. He is still ruler-in- chief of the dog population here, though some of the younger dogs must consider his lordly behavior just downright grumpy. He even reigns over our 118-pound wolf- dog, Kainan, despite an incredible size and age difference. God love that giant hairy beast for continuing to grovel when Howie barks commands at him. If it is possible for an animal to understand he should honor his elders, Kainan is doing just that, and Howie is blissfully unaware that Kainan could easily kick his spotted butt if the mood struck him. But he never turns a hair toward Howie. All hale King Howie (thank you, Kainan … extra cookies, my friend)! Howie also still religiously sleeps with me, my guardian in the night. Oh sure, the effortless ability to hop onto the tall bed that served him well for 13 years, give or take, has been replaced by a careful ascent on a little set of stairs placed to the side of the bed, but we don’t focus on the journey in this case. It’s all about the destination, and I sleep quite well with the reassuring warmth of his back pressed against my feet. My boy has also always had the ability to predict when I will arrive home. Our driveway is quite long, with the entrance out of sight of the backyard. But it has been Howie’s tradition to stand at the side gate, alert to my approach as I round the bend toward the front of the house. Then he hops through the dog door into the house to be first in line to greet me at the door. There has not yet been a “last time” to this tradition. His instinct is still there, but I think sometimes his deep naps override his internal alarm clock. I’m not always met with his attentive gaze to welcome me home these days, but that makes the times he is there even more special. As time marches on, I’m trying to pay attention to all my moments with Howie. Close attention. Howie has lessons to teach me, and I don’t want to miss a single one. He is teaching me that it really is nec- essary to circle a minimum of about 15 times before you are ready to sink into the chosen spot on the bed. He is teaching me that sharing is im- portant, especially at my mealtime, and yes, he DOES like whatever I have, even if it’s just a stalky piece of romaine lettuce. Over the course of all these years, I have been well trained to recognize that any milk left in the bowl after the cereal is consumed belongs to Howie. He assures me with his all-knowing stare that enjoying a small amount of dairy isn’t going to kill him. I reference that 15 years, 6 months and 2 days achievement. Lactose be damned! I’m learning patience during the dozens of times a day Howie’s slower, slightly un- steady gait tends to consistently land him directly in my path. I think this one is also helping me develop balance and uncanny agility as I manage a quick stop or sidestep in an unchoreographed dance to avoid causing us both to go crashing to the floor. I’m learning not to worry about the small stuff that comes with loving an elderly dog. So what if he made a valiant effort to get to the yard to do his business but didn’t quite make it out the door in time? I have paper towels. I have cleaning products. I have a mop at the ready. He’s taught me that if his legs are twitch- ing rhythmically during a deep slumber, it’s not my cue to wake him. Instead, I should envision the dream in which he is surely racing across our front pasture framed by the long, golden rays of sunset as he has on so many of our adventures during his younger days. And if I happen to be there to add a belly rub to his first waking stretch, all the better. Most importantly, Howie is teaching me not to focus on the last times. We can never predict when a child will decide he’s too grown-up to kiss his mom goodbye just as surely as we can’t predict the last time an aging dog is able to climb the stairs without assistance. And truthfully, maybe having last times slip by unnoticed is a blessing. Life according to Howie means you ac- cept change, you celebrate firsts, you cher- ish memories of the past, and you embrace all the wonderful times in between. Time marches steadily on, and each moment, each phase of life is precious. As the holidays approach, the greatest gift I can imagine is one more chance to sit with Howie in the glow of our Christ- mas tree, logs crackling in the fireplace, a Hallmark movie marathon playing on the screen. But no matter if he chooses to stay with me for another month or another year, I’ll be right by his side, learning, adjusting, appreciating and loving the heck out of my special best boy. He is the most amazing friend I could hope for, and his memory and gifts to me will last well beyond any last times.