How many times is it said 'Why do we wait until a funeral to see everyone?'
Well, we didn't wait. Our granddaughter graduated from high school in June, and we went to NY to spend time with the family up there. Proud grandparents, proud parents, proud graduate !!! How awesome is that?
Jasper is a full size black Labrador retriever. In his better days, he would wait just for the right moment to spring free and send everyone chasing him up and down the street. Sometimes he would make a clean break, and disappear, only to be caught by animal control, and be kept until he was bailed out. Fireworks freaked him out, and during 4th of July week, he could be found taking refuge in the shower stall. Only place he would feel safe. Jasper hated to watch people talking on the phone He would howl and make a ruckus until he was put outside in order to carry on a phone conversation (watch out for the runaway dog!).
He watched three youngsters growing up, and always made sure they and the rest of the house was safe.
Now, Jasper struggles to get up off the floor to go outside a couple of times a day. Struggle or not, he still takes care of business outside. Watching him during our visit was a time to watch and ponder life cycle. We probably won't see him again, as our trips back east are at best annual.
Graduation brought family together from up and down the east coast. Many hadn't seen each other for a year or more. Everyone had a fantastic time. Jasper was so caught up in the festivities that he was up and around with everyone for hours on end. It really lit a fire under him. The following days he was exhausted, but I could tell that he had been as happy as we were to see and be part of the festivities.
I heard a song the other day. Don't know who the artist is, so I hope they will forgive any copyright infringement. A few word caught my ear. -- "so many shadows dancing under our feet". Ain't it so. Our shadows in life are real, but only to our eyes. Watching Jasper last month made me look at the Alpha and the Omega. Watch the shadows, cherish them, and accept them for what they are.
(You decide in your own mind what this might mean). Blessings to all. Blessings to Jasper
