It is almost a year since we lost the faithful and active companionship of our little black poodle. Even when she was blind, and losing her other faculties, she was always game to go on. With gentle guidance she was able to clamber up geological surfaces that as we ourselves grew older, gave us reason to pause to regain our breath, challenged by the physical energy expended in pursuing a lifelong love of hiking adventures.

When she was young and energetic and full of curiosity and bounce nothing could hold her back. She lived for the adventures that our constant search for absorbing new environments privileged us with. By the time she was fifteen her hearing began to go, and two years later her eyes, but her heart was strong and so was her determination. When she finally left us approaching her 20th year we felt inconsolable at her loss. The mere space of a year hasn't given us much solace, just distance.

And now that our other little companion has reached his thirteenth year, his slow-down is far more noticeable than hers ever was at the same age. He lacks the enthusiasm she had for the love of the outdoors. His preoccupation is that of, when possible, luxuriating in the rays of the sun. He doesn't welcome physical challenges, would far more prefer to simply loll about. It becomes an effort to convince him daily that a good vigorous walk in the ravine enriches all of our lives.