What If Max Isn’t Old?

We’ve been thinking and talking about Max alot lately. We’re getting the new puppy on Friday, and it’s only natural, I guess, that Max would be filling our thoughts as we prepare for this new arrival.

I can’t help but wonder what it will be like to watch this new dog learn behaviors — like when did Max become afraid of the word “vet?” If the word was uttered, he would cower around the house, avoiding us all day long. It was all we could do to get him into the car. Yet, if we asked him if he wanted to go for a ride, he would jump into the car — without needing to be asked twice.

Max did go to the lake — once. But it was long before we had a place there. We were just visiting. One thing this dog will know, that Max never did, is to know what it means when we say, “We’re going to the lake.” That dog will be the first to jump in the car…

So, when it was time for Max to go, we explained that Max was old. He couldn’t even run anymore…
“Mom, what if Max isn’t old? What if that?”
“One time, I saw Max ….. RUN…!”
“Mom, did Max have any birfdays?”