Sometimes in life you get so busy and focused with tasks that you forget to live life itself.  It took an old friend to remind me of this.

Jazzmine is my 16+ year old golden retriever.  We got her on a road trip outside of Syndney, Nebraska in a speck of a place called Lodgepole.  We then traveled through Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and then returned to our home then, Taos, New Mexico.

The other dogs didn’t mind Jazzmine and were happy to have her as part of the dog family.  They were our kids at the time.  We took her and the other dogs everywhere and she even made it up to the highest point in New Mexico on Wheeler Peak.

There are many stories to be told about Jazz.  I could probably write a book on the adventures I had with her and, maybe I will someday!  But, Jazzmine always embraced life with a kind and happy attitude.

We now live in a different state in a big busy city, have a teenage daughter, 3 other dogs, 2 horses, have moved from 3 different houses, and Jazz still wakes up everyday with her doggy smile  wanting to make you happy, THEN wanting her walk, and  then breakfast.

Last week, we awoke in the night and found Jazzmine in distress.  She was disoriented , had an accident on herself and couldn’t move her back end.  My husband and I were very sad.  We sat with her, rubbing her white face and lumpy old body hoping to settle her laboring breathing down.  We reflected on all of the unconditional love this dog gave us as well as all of the adventures she had accompanied us with.   We then were facing the task of what to do for her.  Putting your best friend down is never an easy thing and can reduce the manliest man to tears (if he is a real man!)  We finally settled Jazz down to where she was sleeping comfortably again and then we decided to go back to sleep too.  We were dreading the day to come. The  day that we would put our dear old friend to sleep.

The next morning, the strangest thing happened.  Jazzmine got up with her happy dog smile, wanted her breakfast, then walk as if nothing ever occurred in the night!  I have to say I was very relieved as I grabbed the ball and proceeded to take the dogs for a walk.

She has been fine for an old dog since.

I do know that the day will come when I do have to help my dear old friend to doggy heaven, but that day is not right now.  Jazzmine reminded me that I need to slow down with my busy life, tell all my loved ones that I love them, and not to forget the little things in life that are my purpose of life.  I need to not take every day for granted, live each day to its fullest, and stop every once in a while to enjoy life.

I hope that everyone who reads this blog will take a moment out of their busy life and tell someone they love them, give their old dog (or new one ) and extra pat, and give their horse an extra carrot today!