Headed down the same road

They say that after a while people begin to look like their dogs. I don’t doubt it. I’m just not sure which one.

I suppose it depends on the day.

While I’d like to think there are some similarities between me and Baby Ruth, I’m just kidding myself. She’s bright-eyed and full of energy, pays close attention to everything going on around her, and quickly gobbles up every last morsel of her food.

Her teeth are sparkling white, her coat is shiny and her future is bright.

That’s not me. Even on my best day.

And as much as I’d like to believe Ace and I have anything in common, it’s obvious we don’t.

While like me he’s often unkempt and in need of a bath and a haircut, once cleaned up he still looks a bit like his show-dog father. Now in his prime, he’s strong and fast, and when he’s not drooling and covered with mud, remains quite a handsome fellow.

Bathed and shaved and dressed in a new suit, I still show the wear and tear Ace doesn’t.

Jem and I share a few more similarities, perhaps because in dog years he’s older than me. We’re both grey around the jowls and have difficulty waking up after a sound sleep.

We both have hitches in our git-a-longs. He suffers from a bad shoulder. I nurse a bum knee.

But except for his greying muzzle, Jem still wears a shiny coat, which he spends an inordinate amount of time keeping clean.

His face remains puppy-like and his motor hasn’t slowed.

He’s a bit heavier than he used to be, but not much, and his appetite never wavers.

Then there’s Spot. Nearly 100 in dog years, she and I have the most in common. The old girl is thin and bony, has difficulty getting to her feet, and often wears a confused expression on her face. Her coat is dull and she has bad teeth. Her appetite comes and goes. She proudly wears an old dog funk that often arrives before she does.

That’s me to a tee.

On the other hand, Spot sleeps so soundly I sometimes think she has died, and I start to tear up, either because I think she’s gone or because I wish I could sleep like that.

Given enough time, I suppose we’ll all look alike.

After all, we’re headed down that same road.

Parker Heinlein is [email protected]