Zeus enjoyed being retired. Frequently I'd take him to school with me and, out of habit, he would buzz through my classroom and sniff every kid's desk. No narcotics were ever found, but man, those kids liked to hoard their Goldfish crackers!
Craig and Zeus were very close, much like Pepper and I are.
Craig would walk Zeus every day at least once. They'd go all over the neighborhood, chatting to folks as they went. Soon, Zeus was very well known by the people who lived in Arbor Chase.
I wrote about that in my Teachinmama blog on May 21, 2010:
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Zeus truly is the "neighborhood dog." We are among those who moved into the neighborhood as it first was being built, and, even though the neighborhood has grown tremendously, since Craig walks Zeus every day at least once, just about everyone knows them both.Zeus has a "fan club" - kids who drop by and knock on the door, asking if they can play with him. Anna is the "president" - she'll even bring him treats or come right in and get them out of his jar! Her brother, Ian, and her mom are Zeus-lovers, too.
Zeus sporting a dusty handprint on his head left behind by Ian who had been playing in the dirt and had stopped to pat him..
Anna's mom, Lisa, once invited Zeus to a backyard BBQ they were having (Craig and I were not included in the invitation!) I was outside watering flowers and they were celebrating a friend who had been battling cancer. Lisa called across the yards, "Can Zeus come over?" and when I assented, off he rocketed - he knew there was a burger waiting for him!
He's been battling cancer himself, is riddled with lumps, and has arthritis. Taking walks is too much for him - he makes it clear that he just wants to stay home and off his feet. No longer do he and Craig wander the neighborhood, chatting to the neighbors, being petted (er, Zeus, that is) and catching up on the neighborhood news.
I just got a Facebook message from one of the neighbors who has lived here the longest and knows Zeus well. She said that several of them were down at the lake, sitting in the pavilion and enjoying the evening. The conversation came around to Zeus, and a few people were asking if he was still alive. She wanted to know how he was, and so I sent her back a message that his spirits were good (as was his appetite) but that the arthritis had made it so he just did not want to take walks.
I am deeply touched that he has made his mark in the hearts of our neighbors so deeply that, when there hasn't been a recent "Zeus sighting," they wonder how he is and what he is doing. And not only do they just wonder, they actually make the effort to contact us and ask.
That is the sign of a dog who is beloved not only by his family, but those around him, too.
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Speaking of family, Zeus loved when family came to visit.
Playing catch with snowballs thrown by Kyle and Braden.
Camping in our back yard with Curt, JC, and Trinity.
Cuddling up with Braden.
Helping Granny Slash supervise Emily and Cole as they played a game of bocce in the front yard.
Distracting Boompa from shoveling snow.
Hanging out by the table during Thanksgiving dinner and hoping someone might share. (Of course, they did!)
Feeling well enough to head over to the park for a bit.
It was hard to see Zeus growing older and the arthritis and cancer were starting to impact his quality of life. Meds helped a lot, but we knew our time together was growing to a close.
Stay 'tooned.
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