It’s Never Too Late To Fall in Love

My father Aldo has finally found True Love, at 92.

No he hasn’t fallen for another woman, a Jack Russell terrier mutt called Tex has him spellbound. He’s totally besotted by this dog. Watching him dancing around all day trying to satisfy his ‘best friend’s’ every whim and fancy is both cute and at times somewhat ridiculous.

Tex was my brother’s dog and after Aldo came out of hospital a few years ago he thought he’d be good company to help with my father’s recovery and rehabilitation.

When Tex first came to stay with Aldo he was none too happy with the new surroundings and especially his new master. It was a case of ‘who’s this old fart constantly dagging me-always patting me.’ Usually dogs follow their owners around. Here we had the new owner following the dog all day. Aldo pursued him like a dumb struck teenager.

But Tex, like an aloof teenager took what the suitor had to offer [ lots of food ] but otherwise responded indifferently to his persistent attentions and pandering.In fact he spent hours trying to find hiding places in the garden to get away from him.
He pined for my brother and couldn’t understand what he’d done to be palmed off to the old guy.

Was my brother punishing for something!

Tex isn’t what you’d call an affectionate dog. I liken him more to a cat. Comfortable in his own company, by and large indifferent to the presence of those around him, except when he’s hungry. Well it’s taken a couple of years but Aldo has finally won Tex over.
Years of constant attention and affection on Aldo’s part has finally touched Tex‘s heart.

They spend most days sitting next to one another when they’re not out walking or eating meals. Staring into each other’s eyes like smitten lovers. He’s always been known as a stubborn man, very much set in his ways.
But Tex has mellowed him.

Aldo has even changed his regimented eating habits to accommodate Tex’s likes and dislikes.
Tex likes chicken drum sticks, so Aldo eats chicken for dinner every evening.

Pork doesn’t agree with the little mutt, so like an Orthodox Ashkenazi, Aldo won’t touch the tainted flesh either.

^{Aldo and Tex lounging together in the Fiat 1100}

I over heard a conversation between two dog lovers in a bar who were exchanging Dog Tales. Emotional stories of nurturing puppies rescued from dog shelters-homes through to the final visit to vet’s clinics to have their terminally ill best friends-pets put down.

One of the blokes told his drinking companion, “Mate I can’t fall in love with a woman, but I have no problem falling in love with my dogs.”

Aldo and Tex’s affection for one another have kept them both soldiering on well past what their respective ages would deem reasonable. Tex is about 12 years old and has a large tumour like cist hanging down from his stomach, which just about scrapes the ground as he walks.

Aldo stubbornly refuses to use a walking aid but they both offer each other reassuring support as they shuffle along the pavement during their thrice daily walks.

I sometimes raise my eyebrows to Aldo’s fawning over his best friend. Tex is on the receiving end of Breakfast in Bed like treatment from morning to night. But as the old adage goes, love is in the eye of the beholder.

They’ve found each other relatively late in life’s cycle, but the way they look into each other’s eyes says it all.
It’s never too late. While you’re still breathing, there’s still hope.

Fabrizio Marsani
fmarsani@yahoo.com.au