A Max Report

Max, our 14 month old miniature daschund, has now moved into his teenage years.  Despite our many efforts, he still believes that he is in charge.  For an 11 pound pet, he certainly has a very big ego.  Despite this, he has some wonderful traits.   His level of enthusiasm for play and walks (preferably offleash) is contagious.  His several walks a day are keeping us (most particularly me) more fit.  We also enjoy going for a "pack" walk that involves all three of us.  It is one more thing that my husband and I now have in common and we enjoy these walks immensely.  When one of us is out,  he keeps the other company.

  

His ability to simply go to sleep when we both go out, sometimes for 4 or 5 hours at a time, is amazing.  We simply tell him that he has to "stay" and he does just that.  He finds a nice warm confortable spot, usually on the $400 faux fur throw that is draped on the living room couch.  As far as we can tell, he doesn't eat, chew, explore, or have accidents while we are gone.  His happiness when we return is a joy to watch.  He basically wags his whole body. 

During the early months, when he was a tiny, seemingly helpless puppy, I wasn't convinced that getting a dog was a good idea.  Now my husband and I agree that it has been a great success and we look forward to many happy joyful years with Max, Maxi, the Maxer, Maximillion, Macaroni, etc. etc.

The Next Generation Marries

In the past year we have had invitations to a number of weddings.  The children of our boomer friends are now entering the marriage zone.  These invitations are for not just out of town weddings, but out of country weddings.  Last year we reluctantly declined two of these invitations, one to Australia and one to the South of France.  In the case of the latter, our Irish friends' daughter wanted to get married in St. Remy de Provence where our friends have a holiday home.  We had just been to Malawi, a major one month trip, and just couldn't contemplate a trip to Australia or even to the the wedding in France. 

Well, the second daughter of our Irish friends is getting married shortly in Ireland and we have decided that we will attend this one.  As you head into your 60s you realize that you don't have forever.  Life seems awfully short and friends become increasingly important.  My husband has known his friend from Ireland for about 45 years!  We have visited he and his wife in Ireland and they have visisted us here in Canada.  We value this friendship and that's why we are going to this next wedding.   Part of the wedding festivities involve staying at Ballynahinch Castle for 2 nights!  Should be some wedding!  I'll post photos when we get back.

Like What He Likes?

Today I'm going with my husband to play duplicate bridge.  Now, I've played rubber bridge for a long time.  Several of our couple friends play and it is a pleasant way to spend an evening.  My husband has been trying to convince me to start playing duplicate bridge.  He's been playing for several years.  He has other partners but he would like me to be available when the others aren't.

I've been resisting.  The idea of playing with complete strangers, some of whom are determined to win more Masters points just doesn't sound like fun to me.  Also, it means having to learn and remember a whole lot of conventions.  Again, that doesn't appeal either.

Well, today I'm going with him.  I figure that as we age, it will be good if there are activities we enjoy together.  He notes that there are alot of older people who play at his club; it provides them with both mental stimulation, as well as social contact.  I'm a little nervous, but in the end I will probably enjoy myself and I know it will please him no end.  Now all I have to do is figure out what the quid pro quo is going to be!