I am thankful for the company of my dogs.   I get to do a lot of things with them…. it’s true.   Like, go for a walk every day.  At least one a day.

Oh. The Three-Dog-Walk. Also known as “The Human Tetherball.” Yes, it is a bit of a dance, with three dogs whirling and winding around you. The intensity of the leash-tangle is highly dependent on squirrel sightings, and other dog encounters. One of these days, I am going to hit the dirt. Hopefully, it will be the very soft dirt.

Yet today as we walked… it was Max’s turn to tumble. Our pace was slow at best. No distractions, or obstacles in our way. So it is not often you see a dog trip and fall under these circumstances. Yet that is exactly what happened. Maxine’s short little legs had a hitch in their giddy-up. And she stumbled.

If she were young and spry… I may have laughed with her… and called her a clutz… just like me. But she isn’t young. In fact, she is getting old. So this incident made me a little sad.

I am reminded that nothing is permanent. And as much as I would like to be in control and keep everything status quo…. quite simply… that isn’t the case. The only sure thing is that we have this exact little moment. That good ol’ little blip.  Then poof.  The last second is gone…. and the very next one could be the last.   Yet even still… they are all very connected and sequential. What a thing, time is.

Life is uncertain. And certainly not permanent. It is forever changing. Blip. End of blip.  On to next blip.

Some days it is difficult for me to to realize this…. or to recognize and accept this notion. Each particular moment is bringing me something… whatever its benefits or austerity may be. I should try to understand….. that this is somehow…. just what I need right at that moment. That instant.

I try to remember that I must not pass up what is offered today. While it is here…. it is absolute. And once it is gone…. it is no more.

My Max. My beautiful little Max. Today she stumbled on the path… and I am uncovering another lesson. May I be mindful that this time, this specific combination of events and people and little beings, won’t come again. They are the gift of the present. And for that…. I can be grateful.