The World is Old

The world is old, the world is gray

Lessons of life, can’t be learned in a day

I watch and I wait and I listen while I stand

To the music that comes from a far better land

I have to tell you that because I lived with Him Indoors I’ve developed the same sort of scepticism about the festive season as him. Of course, up here at Rainbow Bridge it’s like Christmas Day every day.
But Himself is not a fan. I understand. The worst part of losing his Chris were the 18 days she was in hospital and those days were over Christmas. As those dates also include her birthday and their wedding anniversary it is no real surprise that in the all time I knew him he became a little reclusive , sad, and even introverted over this time. His friends were (are) great but if you look there is always a sadness in his eyes over this time. I knew and always tried to be extra good. I hope his pals can help him this year without me being around.

Him Indoors has been studying potential replacements for me although I gather it’s not going to be an immediate replacement. He told Alf when he saw him that he needs to recover from losing me first (I’m touched) but will think about a rescue doggie. He was looking the other day, but there are so many and seemingly lots of rules and regulations. They are probably a good thing although it seems often these sites prefer homes where there is already one dog in residence.

I always understood my role in life, when I was down with Him Indoors. I joined him after his lovely wife had died. She had been gone a good time (two & half years) by the time I arrived at his door. I knew he was lost, lonely and had his own version of depression. Not serious but bad enough that his son & grandson were worried about him.
I write about this now, not simply because he’s alone again, but because along with lots of other people – old and young – it is worse because of the restrictions being imposed in the name of this virus.

I’ll let you in a little secret. I wasn’t too unhappy to come to the Rainbow Bridge with all this virus stuff destroying our world. It was destroying mine. The Boss & I were used to lots of callers, lots of meetings in Piccolos and Bewdley Brewery (or a pub) where I would often meet other dogs to whom I would explain how superior I was as a Springer and they had better behave.

Looking down, I can tell that even The Boss (who really is Mr Positive) is struggling a bit, not just because I’m not there (he’s a very different bloke to nine years ago) but with the restrictions – his friends are great but numbers visiting have to be strictly limited – that means most of the social life is ceased.
I reckon there’s loads of individuals who live alone who are gradually being stressed out by the lack of human contact with their friends and families. It’s not natural is it? Him indoors is very definitely working on a shorter fuse than normal! We all often under-estimate how important friends are in our lives. Plus I never saw my family but I saw lots of friends when we were out walking.

Moving on, I loved dear Babs Windsor in her Carry On films. I used to watch them from the settee; always made my tail wag so I’m sure the world is less pleasurable now after she died.

We all have to leave when our time is up – I found that out, didn’t I!! Somehow it’s not quite so bad when somebody is really old and have had a good, long life (like me). Occasionally though the person is special “to the world” and if they have been ill as well (like Babs) it has an unfairness to our loss that is difficult to explain. 

His Nibs painting has been keeping him in better spirits now he’s recovering from losing me. He’s a bit of a survivor in truth and I reckon he knows I’m keeping an eye on him along with his Chris. He is lucky to have two great art mentors in Lizzie (Moretti) and Hilary (Baker). Unlike him, they know what they’re talking about, so if they tell him a painting is “good” he becomes all embarrassed because he doesn’t know really how he’s done it! Do you know he’s going to have a website as well to feature them? How exciting. I’d have thought he’d have painted me since I left, but not a glimpse have I seen. I’ve seen plenty of browns and whites being featured so I suppose I should be happy with that.

It will be party time up here soon. There will be plenty of doggie treats although there is no Father Christmas, so I will wish you all a Happy Christmas and a healthy, successful New Year. I hope you get rid of that virus down there pretty soon. I’ll be running across the clouds checking you are all ok.

God Bless

Woof! Woof!