WALKING WITH HILDA

I took Hilda for a walk yesterday.  I don't do this very often because of her advanced years and back problems, I wait until she has days when she is especially active and interested in something other than occasionally adjusting her napping position.

Because she is getting a bit blind and quite hard of hearing, she is paranoid when outdoors in wide open spaces.  Her nose works, so she can smell other dogs and things, but she does not trust her other senses to know the proximity of the things she smells.  When we walk, her normally non-stop wagging tail is tucked in and her head swivels from side to side taking in the possibility of ambush.  Sometimes she slows and takes a long look behind her.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am not torturing her by taking her for a walk, she LOVES going out.  She just trots along happily.

Usually I go to our Sports Park because it is a nice 2.5 mile loop, away from traffic noise and a pleasant park.  But lots of people walk their dogs there and I think it might be more stressful for Hilda.  So I found a new trail that I walked yesterday.  It is in a more rural setting and we were the only ones there.  I usually wear my iPod, but I decided not to.  It was a beautiful cool morning and there was a breeze and I enjoyed hearing the leaves scuttling around.  I saw lizards and squirrels (fortunately Hilda did not see them.)  I love the smell of the dry grasses. 

On the return loop back to the car I was really into the whole experience.  The blue of the sky, the smells, thinking about the changes the Fall would bring soon.  A huge hawk took off from one of the oak trees and was gliding across the open field.  It was such a perfect finish to our outing to see this elegant creature. Then it dropped the longest, whitest spray of bird poo I have ever seen as it soared off.