I have to admit it’s almost been impossible to convince Lewis to write something for his blog.  I think he just got lazy during the fall, especially because of his surgery, but more about that later. Part of the problem might be his reverse inclination to the weather. Most people and animals want to get out of the harsh weather.  Lewis on the other hand was bred for such adventures. Great Pyrenes, especially when mixed with a St. Bernard, which is Lewis’ noble lineage (ha) – – seemingly would rather spend their time outside.  Well, most of the time.  I did use the word seemingly just now. But when the temperature starts flirting with 100 degrees, the big fellow swallows his heritage and has no qualms about enjoying the fruits of Mr. Carrier’s labors.

Lewis is BIG (no pun intended) on being comfortable, which made this last fall particularly difficult. Lewis had to have surgery, and not just any surgery.  Somewhere along the way, Lewis had torn his ACL.  No one knows how or when, but I prefer to think it was the jet sweep right on third down.  In any event, it was a fairly long procedure and head-banging expensive.  You could rescue 20 Lewises for the cost of that medical excursion.  Of course, most of that difference would be made up in just a couple of weeks in dog food.  The worst part was that &^%$ cone he had to wear until his leg healed.  It’s the only time before or since that I have ever heard my giant friend whimper.  It killed me, and it still echoes in my head even now.  I’m happy to report, however, that Lewis is back to his former self…and ways.  His futile high-speed pursuits terrorize chipmunks, frogs, lizards, or anything that dares enter his royal territory.  It’s like he is making a statement, “I’m still Lewis.”

I wish everyone could know him.  The way he bounces around like a 140-pound rabbit, cornering a nasty, muddy tennis ball, is quite hilarious; or the way he keeps a half-closed eye on the household so he doesn’t miss anything. 

But as the old saying goes, he doesn’t miss a trick.  And he wouldn’t, because he’s still Lewis.