Growing Old With Dogs

This verse really captured my heart. I had to share it with all of you...

Growing Old with Dogs 

When I am old 
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts 
and a bandana over my silver hair 
and I will spend my social security checks 
on wine and my dogs. 

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair 
and listen to my dogs' breathing. 
I will sneak out in the middle 
of a warm summer night 
and take my dogs for a run, 
if my old bones will allow... 

When people come to call, I will smile 
and nod as I show them my dogs 
and talk of them and about them 
the ones so beloved of the past 
and the ones so beloved of today 

I will still work hard cleaning after them, 
mopping and feeding them and 
whispering their names 
in a soft loving way. 

I will wear the gleaming sweat 
on my throat, 
like a jewel and I will be 
an embarrassment to all 
especially my family 
who have not yet found 
the peace in being free 
to have dogs as your best friends 

These friends who always wait, 
at any hour, for your footfall 
and eagerly jump to their feet 
out of a sound sleep, 
to greet you as if you are a God. 

With warm eyes 
full of adoring love and hope 
that you will always stay, 
I'll hug their big strong necks 
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads 
and whisper in their very special company 

I look in the Mirror 
and see I am getting old 
this is the kind of person I am 
and have always been. 
Loving dogs is easy, 
they are part of me. 

Please accept me for who I am. 
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives 
they love my presence in their lives 
When I am old this will be important to me 
you will understand when you are old 
if you have dogs to love too. 

~Author Unknown