I love walking, I walk every day, even in cold weather. I admit I don’t walk as quickly as I did, or as easily. Walking on rough or enough ground is reason for me to slow down and be careful. I just don’t feel as certain as I once did, and I am careful not to fall, that would shut down my walking.

Red and I are psychically attached to one another, he doesn’t need cuddling from me or much attention, he just needs to be with me, and that is fine, that is what I need also. Since my open heart surgery, I have noticed Red keeping a much closer eye on me, as in today when I came to cross the Gulley Memorial Bridge and Red had stopped and turned to wait for me.

He also senses when I need to stop and slow down, I have a heart condition called angina, once in awhile it is painful when I push too hard.

Red often does that this days, wait for me that is, my trek into the woods today involved walking on a lot of snow and ice, and I have to move slowly and sometimes, carefully, especially when walking over icy rocks or slopes. Red is always patient for me, and I love this image of him waiting over the other side of the bridge for me.

Many of the people reading this love the idea of Rainbow Bride, I respect their feelings but I do not want Red waiting for me on the other end of that bridge so we can hang out for all eternity. When he goes, I hope to finds another human to bring him to the work he loves, herding sheep and touching people’s spirits.

I would hate to think of him romping with me for all eternity, we both have better things to do, at least I hope we do.

Still, I didn’t miss the symbolism of Red at the bridge, we are both moving through life together, neither one of us has Fate’s energy or drive. Red is grounding, he is always there with me, waiting for me, not always easy for a border collie to do. He is my spirit dog.