Max

Yesterday I was walking Roscoe when a car pulled up beside us and the driver asked if he was a pure breed beagle. After answering him he said, “I thought so and drove off up the road.”

We continued our walk and when we reached the pathway we use I noticed that the man had let his dog out and was following him in the car while driving on the road that runs along side the trail. I thought, “that man has it figured out.” At one point the dog stopped and he continued driving, but then the dog quickly ran to catch up.

The road splits off and goes up the hill and the dog obviously was familiar with their route. By the time the car was making its way back down the hill we had arrived at the turning point.

The dogs were exited to meet each other and it gave me the opportunity to meet Max. He was a nice older gentleman that I discovered lived down the road from me. He had a daily routine of this walk, then breakfast and then a drive to the airport where he would let his dog Hattie run as much as she wanted.

His comment, “Those are some bright pants,” made me smile as I was wearing brightly colored tropical print running pants. He asked if I had every heard of a thing called a doggie play date and mentioned that his new neighbors hosted them each week and that Roscoe was invited.

We talked for about 10 minutes and when he left he said he would be watching for me over the days to come. I thought about him as he left and how many changes had taken place over his lifetime. I would guess that he was was in his 80’s. Brightly colored running clothes and doggie play dates just to mention a few.

We were leaving town that morning and I was thinking of skipping our walk, but then I would have missed Max. He was a great reminder to slow down a bit and take time to talk to people, meet someone new.

I know all my neighbors at our weekend home because everyone is on a slower place and takes the time to visit. I want to make a better effort at doing the same thing at my home neighborhood.

There are so many interesting people out there and I’m so glad that Max took a moment to slow down and ask a question. I made a new friend and learned a valuable lesson.