Cammy is 11 years old today. We took her for a walk at Dewey’s Pond, probably her favorite place on earth. It has everything a Lab could wish for — water and room to run. Sometimes she finds dead fish in the shallows, always an occasion for joy. Here she is in action:

Cammy O’Rose, June 22, 2005

She is old, but not old enough to sit quietly while I work.
Her cold nose bumps my left hand, warm tongue
Slipping out to taste the salt of my palm.
She sits back and waits; staring at me implacably,
Her liquid eyes saying: “Take me walking now.”