The "Short Bus" Kids

A dog friend and I laugh lovingly about our "short bus" dogs. It's not meant in any derogatory fashion. We just happen to have dogs with various challenges. She has one dog with a soft spot on its head. It's very active, and she's fashioned a helmet for him. She has another one with a deformed rear leg.
I have Dusty, 15+ years, a tad senile with poor vision; Shiloh with his enlarged esophagus, weakening rear muscles and deaf; Blitz who looks moth-eaten from his disease.
It's nice to have a friend like her as we can commiserate about the joys and sorrows of having dogs with above average needs.
Today was an absolutely spectacular day weather-wise. Interestingly enough I felt awful. The aches and pains from the car accident had taken a terrible hold in my legs and I spent a great part of the day just laying on the couch with the heating pad. Later as the sun was setting the pain wasn't as bad and I wanted to take a walk around our acreage with the dogs. It's no longer safe to take all six out as Shiloh can't hear - if he takes off I could lose him forever. Dusty tends to just wander off and I simply can't keep my eyes on wandering dogs. So I elected to take the four that had working senses and let Dusty and Shiloh remain in the fenced yard. Daisy, Blitz, Moto and Pinch had a wonderful romp as we went around the property line. But coming back, I saw Dusty where I'd left him....sitting at the gate waiting for us. I put the four dogs back and took Dusty out. Just Dusty and I walked along the fenced area. He was delighted and I made much of him. He was smiling broadly as I put him back with the others. Now it was Shiloh's turn. I kept myself on the outside as we walked along the fenced area so he couldn't run off. Then we had one of those moments that makes it wonderful to have a dog. It was as if he was remembering us heeling together in the obedience ring and he came beside me. We heeled together around the fenced area. When released he wanted to play. I ran ahead of him and saw him chasing me. Seeing his fur flying and his eyes bright as he ran to me warmed my heart. When he came to me I held him for a long time and we sat together as the time just stopped for awhile.
The cicadas were singing and the sky was turning red, so time to come inside.
It was just another summer night, but one I'll treasure for years to come.