« The Adventure Begins | Main | Not Too Late? »
June 01, 2009
Papa Leo
Back in 2002, Sheryl wrote a song called “Walking My Dog,” in which she sang about the various dogs we met on our morning walks with our “previous” dog, the late Buddy Rodgers.
In the last verse she tells the story of “Papa Leo,” who “keeps his pockets full of treats.” When we ask him how he is doing, his reply is usually, “Still kicking! But not too high.”
When Sheryl began her battle with Lymphoma last year, I ended up walking our “new” dog, Abby Rhodes, on my own each day. I would occasionally see Papa Leo and he would always ask how Sheryl was.
Well, this morning Sheryl and I were out walking Abby Rhodes together, and for the first time in a year we met Papa Leo together as he was working in his front yard.
His pockets were full of treats for Abby (and other neighborhood dogs, no doubt).
Sheryl asked him, “So how are you doing?”
He answered, “Still kicking! But not too high.”
Then he added, “You know, I try to enjoy every day as much as I can. And I hope to enjoy many more.”
We hope he does too.
Posted by leonolguin at June 1, 2009 12:35 PM