The Happy Wanderers

On our recent long weekend, the whole health group and I had the chance to take a much longer walk.  Really it was more of a hike and as I watched my group members merrily cavorting through the fields, ravines and woods, I marvelled at their ability to just enjoy life. 
I am sure that you have all come to appreciate that Daisy has a weight 'issue'.  In fact Daisy is wider than she is high which makes getting around in rough terrain a little interesting for her.  It is not uncommon for Daisy to lose her footing and then just start rolling in the field over and over again until Austin and I can get her stopped and untangled.  Due to her diminished vision, she also frequently walks into trees, bushes, fence posts etc especially if my attention is diverted by the shenanigans of Austin.  But then even with her one bum eye and her unsteady footing, Daisy discovers the first signs of spring and we stop to smell the flowers...

Daisy and the daisies

And then there is Austin for whom the words "No! Stop! What the H*** are you doing?! Arghhhh!" figure prominently in his life.  Austin has no check mechanism and this has led him to the wonderful discovery of things like gum that you can just chew and chew and chew and then stick in your fur leading to another 'what the h*** are you doing?!'.  But then Austin's verve for life and his firm belief that anything and everything is good to go leads us all to log walking.  And while we struggle to keep our footing and even fall off at times, when we finally find our balance we are the kings of the castle.

Austin surveying his kingdom

Dear old Monty loves to join us on these walks even though his arthritis is acting up and his one hip bothers him.  Somehow he manages to keep up and even wags his tail the whole way.  He just wants to be with us.  Then he reminds us that it is time to go home and we remember how lucky we are to have a home that we can go to.

Take me home....pleeease.

So I learn on these extra long meanderings with my four footed friends that while we all have our hang-ups and our hurtles, and our obsessions and our depressions, when it is all said and done, life is just a bang-up great time.