Chapter 22: Snoop and the Professor: Dogs and the Meaning of Christmas
Since May, the Professor, Mom, and I have been getting used to our new casa and new neighborhood in Tallahassee. Of course, some things never change. I wake up in the morning and sit up. Did I tell you that I now sleep on the bed next to the Professor’s and Mom’s feet? As always, I don’t say anything. I simply focus my Beagle brainwaves on the Professor and, like magic, he wakes up. It does give you a hint as to who is really in charge around here. The professor then drinks a cup of coffee and we are on our morning walk a few minutes later. The new neighborhood is full of dogs and I have already met most of them.
Before Christmas, I wanted to tell you a sad story about Rex, the wise old German shepherd that lives down the street. Yesterday, we were walking and saw Rachel and Rex sitting on the sidewalk. I had met Rex early this past summer and really liked him. He’s an old soul like me. Rex’s head was resting on Rachel’s lap. The Professor sensed something was wrong and asked Rachel if she was OK. She said yes, but then she teared up. I knew immediately what had happened. I nudged Rex’s nose with mine and realized his back hips and legs had stopped working. We wise old dogs can sense these things. Rex is almost 17 years old and has had this problem for about a year. Rachel had taken him to the vet several times. He has been taking pills and had taken some shots but none of this was working anymore.
Rex moved a bit when I nudged him and he was able to stand up just long enough to give Rachel a kiss and to lick her tears. Rex was reassuring her that he would be OK and that she would be OK. Rex was telling her that he had the best life a dog could ever want. He was a member of a wonderful family that loved him and he loved them. A dog doesn’t want or need anything more but love and family.
Rachel’s husband showed up with the car, picked up Rex, thanked us for waiting for him to arrive, and left for the vet. I looked up at the Professor and he said he didn’t know if we’d see Rex again. I sensed that we wouldn’t. We walked home; the Professor didn’t say anything.
So, as you go about this holiday season rushing around and buying gifts, let me tell you that the real meaning of Christmas is not about gifts. It’s about family and love. Take it from a wise, older beagle and his wise, old friend, a German Shepherd named Rex.
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