11/27/2025
Of Old Dogs & Old Friends.
Passing through an airport, I saw a variety of dogs, from the K9 to some fluffy things smaller than a medium-sized cat. These dogs were coddled, smelled great, and were going on vacation with their owners. That’s not my dog. He’s back home and smells like the last thing he rolled in.
I’ve always had dogs. Some I’ve had for a short time before they passed away (the shortest was one day), and others I have spent over a decade with.
My current dog is Romeo, and he’s ten years old. He’s an old dog. He’s been with me longer than some of my friends. But whether we are talking about dogs or friends, the old ones are the best.
From the very beginning, Romeo was frustrating. Even before the check cleared, he ate a Christmas wreath and washed it down with a bottle of medicine. After a lengthy hospital stay and stout vet bill, he was all mine and no worse for the experience.
Kristin was dubious of our relationship and not always fond of Romeo. He sometimes smells, has less-than-perfect manners, digs up the garden, and can be needy of my time. But we have an unspoken agreement. I have his back, and he is always there for me. Like a friend, he is part of the fabric of our family and family history.
What have old dogs and old friends taught me?
When Romeo is needed, he has given me 100% of his effort. When the shotguns come out for pheasant hunting, he’s ready. He has hunted when his paws were frozen and bleeding. He has retrieved birds from icy sloughs. When it’s cold, nasty, and dark, he leaves his warm nest in the doghouse to welcome me home.
He doesn’t expect much out of me. A pat on the head is all it takes to make his day. If I don’t see him for a couple of weeks, he doesn’t hold it against me. We pick up where we left off. In short, he has been 100% reliable, and what more can I ask for?
A guy really only needs one old dog like Romeo to be complete. Dogs are fine and good, but we all need at least one solid friend with dog-like qualities to be complete. That one friend who is 100% reliable. That one person who will tell us what’s straight, with love. When the basement floods in the middle of the night, you don’t feel bad about calling them. When you need to vent or bounce an idea off someone, they listen. When you just want to be together and not say a lot, they are good with that, too. If you haven’t seen them in years, you can pick up where you left off.
As with old dogs, it’s easy to overlook old friends and take them for granted. Someday, all old dogs and old friends will leave this world. They are gone forever, and that chapter in the book of life is closed.
Maybe this Christmas season, reach out to those old friends and pick up where you left off. Take it easy, have a cup of coffee, and catch up. They might smell and have bad manners, but you’ll never regret making time for old friends.
May the blessings of family and friends fill your heart and home with joy this Thanksgiving!
