Hangin' with the mutt

Got home today from work - and for the first time in 16 years, Tobias The Mutt was not there to greet me.

He wasn't on the couch - hoggin' the remote, wasn't in the bedroom on my bed- or his - and he didn't come when I called him.

I finally found him- sitting outside on our first gloriously hot day- basking in the sun- warming up those old bones of his.

And it hit me .......I shall not be as philosophical as Shane- (in the post before this)- when Toby's walk on this earth is done.

Toby came into our family on a tremendously stormy day. My son and I drove out to Lancaster to pick him up- as a tiny puppy. He fit in the palm of my son's hand (OK, my kid has big hands, but still...) and up until the day my Mom moved in with us- he was my dog.

Then he was all hers. He went from Tobias to Toby and was Mom's constant companion.

After Mom passed away, Toby remained in her room for 2 weeks, sitting in her chair - just waiting for her to come home. I had to pick him up and carry him outside and hand feed him.

Finally, after those long weeks, he realized she wasn't going to come home, and he huffed and puffed his way down the long hallway to my room.

I could hear him coming. He leaped up on my bed- made a HUGE show of TRYING to get comfortable - and after 6 years years he's gotten there.

My children are afraid he will out live me- and one of them will have to take him in.