A Dog’s Life? Not Quite

Medical days powerfully reconnect me to earthly realities; they produce stress. I note here that stress, at any rate, is a pretty constant accompaniment throughout adult life, but it is then mild enough so that we become accustomed to it except in times of transition, thus on awakening and, getting ready to go to work, on resuming the burdens of the day. In retirement most of that stress is removed, but medical days bring it back into focus. And it’s not just people who live in stress. I observe the same thing when I watch birds or squirrels or dogs, too, for that matter. Always alert, always awaiting the next damned thing—or powerfully drawn to the next something desirable. And, when stress disappears, going to sleep. Dogs are very good at that. They belong to the leisure class...