Thursday, June 2, 2011
A Story of Aging
As many loyal readers know, the boys each turned 9 years old earlier this year. Obviously, being a week apart in age, they did not come from the same genetic line. Not unless that pug mama had one heck of a labor! 
It is clear that the boys are not blood brothers. There are many things that make the boys alike and many that make them different. Benjamin has been a spitfire his whole life. Henry, well, he has been more laid back. As time moves on, this is starting to reverse. We are starting to see the years of running hard and fast taking its toll on Baby Benny. Henry, while still relatively mellow, now takes the lead on walks and other events. It is sort of like watching the extended version of the tortoise & the hare.
Benny is simply slowing down at a more rapid pace than Henry. I can only compare it to what Solsey must have been like a few years before we got her. Benny's hearing is not as sharp as it once was, he walks considerably slower, he is not eager to go outside for his final potty of the night even though it always garners him a treat. He is as lovey as ever, handsome with adorable wrinkles, precious with his needy whine and irresistible with his appreciate kisses. He is just getting old.
He really is getting to be more & more like Solsey. So much so that now we sometimes call him "Solsey Benny". This is a spin-off of the "Solsey Baby!" call we would yell out when we would be super excited at something funny or adorable Sol did. We feel so lucky to have had Sol and experienced her for as long as we did. And now it is like having another Sol. Only this time we get to be there for more of the onset of the aging process. We really feel truly special to have had 2 pugs age ever so gracefully. We are curious to see if Henry will age in such an accepting fashion.
While it is hard for us to think of what happens after "aging", for now, we are simply enjoying their golden years. They are no longer the shoe string eaters and crate poopers they once were as puppies. They are now fine mature gentlemen that stroll rather than run through the parks and on the beaches. They are finessing their senior moments to be most splendid. We have of course, signed them up for their AARP (American Association of Retired Pugs) membership so they can get discounted meals and services.
Nonetheless, while Benny is ripening quicker and Henry is comparatively more green, both boys are getting up there in age. They are both still our ultimate pleasure. We adore them young, old and in between. Can’t even imagine what Little Looney will be like when she hits 63 in dog years like her bros. Only time will tell.
