Wanderlost wrote:

Richard posted on FB that the latest stroke may cost him his sight in the one sighted eye he has left. Very concerning.

Suggest even if Richard can no longer post, we do not let the Old Fella thread die.

Wanderlost wrote:

Old Fella's story keeps bringing to mind the 100 lb. border collie mix I grew up with. Boots was the sweetest dog in the world. She mothered everything that came by, despite having been spayed before her first heat. Kids, cats, rabbits, horses, cows -- she took care of us all.

Folks could leave us outside all day, knowing that if Boots disapproved of what we were doing, she'd grab the offender by the pants leg and drag us around until we got the message. If we'd been puppy size, she'd have been shaking us to get our attention.

I remember one day in particular: she herded us up on the porch and made us stay there until Dad came to see what was wrong. Big ol' rattlesnake was in the yard and Boots wasn't gonna let it get any of us. She didn't let us off the porch until Dad had killed and carried off the snake.

She knew when we went to the movies, and woe be it if we didn't bring back buttered popcorn for her. She never wanted what we made at home, just the movie buttered popcorn.

Boots only came inside the house twice that I recall, both during really bad storms. She tried to climb into the nearest lap and stuck her nose under that person's arm. Don't know why those two storms and not any others.

She slept in a sheltered ell off the back porch. The cats learned if they slept on or around her, everybody stayed warm. Somewhere we have photos of a large dog almost buried under cats.

Boots lived 16 years. That last day, she met Dad at the back door, accompanied him to the pickup, and wagged her tail as he drove off. When he returned a couple hours later, she'd lain down and slipped away.

Fifty years later and I still miss Boots.

MetalGator wrote:

I received a phone call from Richard last night. He was on his way home from the hospital. He is now legally blind as his left eye was affected from another stroke.

I told him that we missed him on the Old Fella forum and he said to keep it going. I will check in with him soon and let people know how he is doing.

Burch