Reflections: I remember when …
Over the years, I have so many photos of Hobbs that I could make a book, and I will. I didn’t intend to document his life, it just sort of happened. However, now in his later years, it seems essential. I’m watching him age, sometimes gracefully, sometimes not so much. He has his good days and bad days. Sometimes he’s full of energy, other times, seems lethargic, dazed, and confused. Today was one of those confusing days for him, or at least I think that it is confusion. Sometimes he’ll just stand in one position, stare, turn around, stare, and complete that loop several times before finally deciding to lie down or perhaps do something else. I know that his vision is not good, but sometimes he has no problems, other times, he’s bumping into things.
There have been a few times when I’ve come home and found him in unusual places, like in the closet. He was probably looking for me, couldn’t find me, ended up in the closet, and couldn’t figure out how to get back out.
I’ve taken to keeping a camera in the living room. In the above picture, he was about to get into his bed; however, he just stopped and stayed right there for about 3 or 4 minutes, doing nothing. Eventually, he got into the bed. Each morning, the sun shines through the window to the left and usually, he’ll get out of his bed to lie in the shaft of sunlight. I guess that the warmth feels good.
I think that, now, in his advanced age, it’s important for me to relish and photograph these different moments. I guess that is how projects are born. We photograph that which matters to us over time.
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It’s sad when we have to watch our pets go down hill. The last few weeks Allie was with us were difficult – you could almost see the daily degeneration. Unlike you, I wasn’t able to bring myself to document those last weeks, I wanted to remember her healthy and happy.
Enjoy your time with Hobbs – it ends so quickly.
John
John – Visual Notebook recently posted..Watch the Watch
Well, I most certainly hope that these are not his last few weeks, that’s for sure; however, as I said, he has good and bad days. I most certainly have hundreds of photos that span several years and I have gazillions of fun memories of him. I hope that he’ll get to stay around a few more years.
I’m sure that if it were to get really bad, I wouldn’t be able to pick up the camera because I’d have him constantly on my lap.
A lovely project of love, Paul. One you will cherish for a long time.
Thanks, Earl!
An all Hobbs book is an inspired idea. This would be the only way to stop me from giving in to the constant temptation to dedicate an entire pintrest board to him.
Anything to keep you from obsessing, PQ!
Absolutely, document his life. I can’t emphasize it too much, it’s such a worthwhile project, as these photos prove
Thank, Ken. I’m sure that you have plenty of photos of Emo, especially given that he’s such a star!
That top image is precious! I like Earls title for your project. Let me know when the books done. I also agree it is difficult to watch a pet decline n health. I have a good friend who has struggled with heart problems for the past 20 years and is now in hospice. He moves in and out of coherent sentences. It is sad for me but oh so hard for his family. I had not thought of projects defined as that which matters to us. Thanks for sharing what matters to you!
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Fortunately, for me and for Mr. Hobbs, this was a case of a slight overdose of insulin. The vet said that since he had lost some weight, his insulin needed to be reduced. They reduced it by 1/3 and now he is right as rain. No more confusion, bumping into things, having difficulty walking, and no more blurry vision – well, no more than normal. He also had an infection and the antibiotics are working to clear that up as we speak.
Glad you got to the root of it Paul. I remember insulin being a constant thing to manage, our dog would be stable for the longest time and then all of the sudden we needed to change something.
I did make a small book from photos from our current dog and gave it to my wife as a present. Turned out nice, and it is much nicer in that form than a bunch of images sitting on a hard drive.
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That’s what happened, Mark. Everything was fine, then suddenly, not fine. The vet agreed that that is how it happens. They may not be really “fine”, just on the fringes of it, then suddenly, they go over the edge, but since they can’t talk and are genetically wired to hide weakness, it stays hidden.
That sounds like a cool book. Of late, I’ve taken to giving my photos as presents in the form of books or framed images. It’s been well received.