Many of my family members have had their dogs pass away lately. I had written this while in Oxford and missing my own pup. Seems fitting to share it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We Are Like Elves by Jamie Gergen<\/em>\n<\/strong>\nI often wonder what we did to deserve dogs.\nThey, who for generations bring us joy,\nwho greet us happily after our worst day of days,\nas if we\u2019d just won the world's greatest prize.\nAnd ask of us so little in return.\u00a0\nPerhaps it is because we have won a great prize: their devotion.\n\nWe, the un-aging companion must seem immortal to them.\nWe, who will raise their grandchildren\u2019s grandchildren,\nbefore we even show signs of our old age.\nThey must think we are ageless, like elves or gods\u00a0\nwho summon them food from massive bags\nor drop it from our tables, in effortless supply.\n\nWe recall their names like the litany of kings.\nRex, son of Astro. Punky, daughter of Rex.\u00a0\nThird in the long line of good dogs.\nWe know their quirks and flaws,\u00a0\nand they know ours.\u00a0\nThey know the cookies are hidden atop the fridge.\nAnd that you still have not thrown the ball.\n\nWe raise them, care for them.\nWe see them from pup to elder,\ngray grizzle covering their muzzles,\ngray cataracts covering their eyes.\nWe carry them on their last days,\nfeed them steak or chicken,\u00a0\nand tell them they will always get to Heaven.\n\nWhat a shock it must be, when age and human frailty\nbegin to show. How terrified must they be,\u00a0\nwhen we stumble and fall.\nWhen our limbs grow weak\u00a0\nand we start to fade from their world.\nThey must help us walk or stand, in the end.\nHow the gods must eventually fall in their eyes.\nAnd then, the mortal must care for the elves.\n\nBut then, they always have cared for us, haven\u2019t they?\nWe, who live many decades care for beings who live for one.\u00a0\nWe are elves because we want to be there\u00a0\nforever for our dogs.\nAnd for most of them, we can.\n\nIf you want to know what love is,\nask a person about their dog.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many of my family members have had their dogs pass away lately. I had written this while in Oxford and missing my own pup. Seems fitting to share it today. We Are Like Elves by Jamie Gergen I often wonder what we did to deserve dogs. They, who for generations bring us joy, who greet…<\/p>\n