Mornings with Kizzy

Kind of like Tuesdays with Morrie, I'm spending mornings with Kizzy, my beloved best friend and dog. Pre-kids and real grown-up responsibilities, Kizzy was my only responsibility. I had a difficult time being responsible for myself. I was out all night partying, doing things that I would never even consider 2 hours and 5 drinks before, staying up all night as an excuse to not work the next day. But out of all this irresponsibility, came my ultimate (at the time) cause, to make sure my dog was ok. I would always come home because of her, or take her with me so she wouldn't be lonely. She slept with me, on my bed or on the floor, depending on the night. She never left my side and I rarely left hers. 
 And as my family grew, she slowly, as most animals in houses with kids do, got pushed to the side. I imagine the scene from Lady and the Tramp, when Lady realizes she is no longer the "child" in the family. What a hard realization this must be! For sure, Kizzy felt like this. 
So this morning, as I'm walking with Kizzy to get some fresh air, to get her out of the house, to go for a run, exercise my aging body, I realize that my running buddy, can no longer run with me. How did this happen?! I heard myself screaming. How did the love of my life, best friend to the end, get this old?! Dogs aren't supposed to age this fast! They are supposed to always be there!
Now, you might be thinking "Oh no, this is her first dog. She's going to be devastated when she dies." Nope, I've never not had a dog! Other than my living in the dorms-days of college, I have always had a dog, had this beautiful relationship with the canine world.  It's the thought of not having a dog that worries me more. Thoughts of running by myself, of not having something clean up the scraps off the floor from the kids, of not having a confidant who never talks back, but just listens. What IS living, if you don't have a dog?
At this moment of divine intervention, I took a brief minute to put this all into perspective. I could run without her, which would probably mean I wouldn't get very far, or I could agree to her new terms and enjoy her walk and be grateful for the time. 
So from now on, and for as many days as my schedule, kids and time will allow, I get to walk with my dog. It's not something I have to do, it's something I want to do. 
Kizzy will turn 13 on Oct. 14. In dog years, she'll be 91. :)