Red and I have a new tradition, when there is time and the weather permits. We go to the top of the world, in a big beautiful open field, and Red gets to run one of his spectacular outruns. He herds sheep in the morning, and then again in the evening, a good routine for a border collie. But Red is happiest when he is running the boundaries of a big open field, it somehow seems to be his great destiny, he just seems overjoyed.

Today the sky was right, I knew there was a good photo to be had, and Red hopped out of the car and took up his herding position. I said “come bye,” and he took off and vanished over the hill, then several minutes later came around and towards me. This always lifts me up, this soaring, this joyous full out running. It inspires me and reminds me what life is about – soaring to the limits of our experience.