I was walking the Monster Behind the Door last Friday when it hit me like a ton of bricks. The temperature was 37 degrees, and the wind was blowing, which means it felt much colder. MBD and I were not walking with great vigor that morning, and I said to him, “Well dog, I guess we are both getting old.” At that moment, I realized that my four-legged friend and I were two just two buddies nearing the end of middle-age out for a walk together.
Like me, MBD has another name. When he was a puppy, he would often lay on his back and throw his legs in the air in an arhythmic convulsion, creating an upside-down happy dance. The kids and I nicknamed him “Twitchee” because of this spectacle. But as he has gotten along in years, and now only twitches on the living room floor a handful of times per week. Twitchee is about eleven years old which means he is about 2/3rds of the way through the lifespan for his breed; about 56 years old. These days we see more of the Monster Behind the Door than Twitchee!
When I was just a pup, I approached life with the vim and vigor of a spasmodic and arhythmic convulsive happy dance. These are the origins of the Hithchhiker spirit for searching, discovery, and adventure. As I have moved along in years, I only experience that passion a handful of times on any given week. I have come to realize that I am 23rds of the way through the lifespan for my breed; 56 years old. These days “J” sees more Godzilla than Hitchhiker!
Speaking of “J,” she is another thing Twitchee/MBD and Hitchhiker/Godzilla share. When she was traveling in Yakima for ten days researching her thesis, the Monster Behind the Door and Godzilla moped around the house the entire time. When she returned home, there was twitching and hitchhiking once again!
“Well dog, I guess we are both getting old.”
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Psalm 71:18
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