To begin with, I did not have to roll out of bed for an early morning walk.
Nor did I suffer the indignity or rude awakening from the sudden press of a cool nose against my face followed by a bath of licks to my eyes and nose accompaied by the drum-beat of a tail against our mattress.
I was able to fix breakfast without expectant stares demanding a corner of toast. I could even walk around the counter without tripping over a body strategically positioned to remind me with every step that he was there and waiting.
I did not have to deal with opening and preparing his food, a task that became harder after he lost many of his teeth. I did not have to look at the chart and prepare various medicines to hide in his food, as I had these last few months, nor check after he ate to make sure he took them all, and give them to him with peanut butter if he did not.
I ran errands today without worrying about how long I was gone or hurrying back to let him out, though I could not help but worry anyway.
I did not have to check around the house on my return for accidents that happened from time to time in recent months. True, I also was not greated at the door on my return by a wagging tail and his nose flipping my arm up to demand a caress or scratch behind the ear, but even that can be difficult when carrying packages.
Furniture and house will be easier to clean going forward.
No more cares about leaving food close to the edge of the counter if we are not close by.
We can now eat a snack without him sitting quietly in front of us with that intense look that demands a bite.
No need to share space on the couch or give up my seat there so he can nap with Kim until time to go to bed. Kim will not be awakened by his nose poking her to tell her it is time to go up to bed. I will no longer have to move him from my space on the bed when I go up later, or worry if I need to take him out one more time, when all I really want to do is get in bed.
No more sudden barking episodes as we get ready in the morning when he sees deer or squirrels outside our window and decides if he barks loud enough, they will leave, not caring for one moment that we just got our coffee and like quiet, at least until that first cup is done.
I can now rest better. It became hard to carry him down the stairs several times a night, a neccessity in recent weeks. I can quit sleeping on the couch to make getting him up and outside quicker and easier. I do not have remain half-awake to hear that he is breathing okay or the sound of him getting up and having to determine if he just needs to change position or get outside in a hurry.
I am free from the burden of trying to weigh his still wagging tail, enjoyment of food and treats, and his want for hugs and scratches against his blank stares out the window and lying still most of the time, or the sad way he looked at me or sighed when he settled down or groaned when he struggled up.
Travel planning just got easier; no more worrying whether we can take him with us or having to arrange sitters and walkers if we cannot.
I am surprised at how much my time and thoughts go to him and the little tasks he entailed, even though they are no longer required.
Yes, life got a little bit easier today.
