Back in the High Life Again!

I feel like a young Steve Winwood singing “Back in the High Life Again.

Our 15 year-old dog Nittany, a Lhasa Apsa – Bichon Frise, has pushed me aside for so long that I forgot what it felt like to have her adoring love. Oh, Nittany loves the entire family, but there’s no question who’s at the top of her list. You know how parents are always accused of playing favorites and they hem and haw and say how they love everyone equally. Nittany doesn’t have that problem.

Nittany fell in love first with our daughter. When our daughter was in high school, the two of them would spend countless hours cuddled in her bed — our daughter studying for school or listening to music and Nittany enjoying peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. When our daughter went off to college and left home for good, Nittany directed some of her attention to our two sons, but most of her love went to my wife.

The two of them are now thick as thieves. With my wife gone for the week, however, Nittany has had to lower her standards and place her love and affection on my youngest son and myself.

Oh, bring on the love.

“I’ll be back in the high life again
All the doors I closed one time will open up again
I’ll be back in the high life again
All the eyes that watched me once, will smile and take me in.”

Yes, yes, the doors have opened up again. Here’s what I mean: I woke up this morning to find Nittany lying against me as close as she could get. If she were any closer, she would’ve been pushing me out of bed. I don’t think she moved the entire night. She looked as happy and contented as can be.

My wife or I feed her come dinner time, but I rarely get much of a response. Oh, she’ll beg and whine for a scrap from my dinner, but forget about any kind of gratitude. Oh, how the high and mighty have fallen. Dinner time last night? She was jumping around and licking my hands. I could do no wrong.

We’re now the best of friends.

“And we’ll drink and dance with one hand free
And have the world so easily 
And oh we’ll be a sight to see
Back in the high life again.”

Oh, like the song implies, I know the life can be a roller coaster ride and I should enjoy the high life while I can. My wife comes home tonight and when she walks in the door, it’s going to be all for naught. Nittany will race to the door in an excited euphoria and will cast me aside once more.

I’ve been preparing though. I’m ready. Yes, this is a little mean, but I’ve been reminding Nittany who’s had her back. I’ve been taking a trick right out of daytime Soap Operas and Reality TV. Whenever I have the chance, I’ve been saying my wife’s name out of the blue and reminding Nittany that my wife left her stranded, facing the harsh elements, and that my son and I’ve been her only true friends.

I know dogs aren’t supposed to be all that smart, at least according to the animal experts, but I think my little trick might be working. When my wife called the other day and I held up the phone to Nittany, she just yawned, ho-hum like, and went back to sleep.

Yes sir, back in the High Life!

“High life (back in the high life)
Oh we’ll be back.”

Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life Again