A man once said:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and, sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler,
long I stood and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth,
then took the other one…”
Clearly this guy wasn’t a Heeler, probably never met a cowdog at all.
I’ve been at that same place, two roads diverging, but I’ll take one, dart to the other, sniff and go,
back and forth until I have run the full length of both, plus a few extra miles,
and learned all there is to know,
from the smell of the dirt to where the sun reaches through the yellow leaves. 
Now I think about the trails in this old cowdog’s life.
Early, in the dark this time of year, I take a short route just around the house, sniffing and peeing of course, usually barking into the black woods for good measure.
Later, after light but before the sun has come over the east ridge, my trail leads to the creek, through the bottoms, checking to see who was here last night.
I go swiftly and not too far, in case there are still bears, bobcats or mountain lions there!
I take the path to the coop, when we let the crazy birds out for the day.
I trot around the far pasture to check the horses and cows – yup, everyone still there and accounted for by the Heeler in charge.
I remember the long lonely trails I walked in the desert, and the long unknown one that brought me here.
We all have our own trails – some are tough,
some hurt a lot, 
many we walk alone.
Mom and I walk together, alone on the trail now.
I stop on one path and look back – knowing how this will live forever in the heart of a little boy – and a dog.
This long one is a trail through time, steps behind us gone, and we don’t know where it turns ahead.
No matter which one is taken –
be sure your steps are resolute on the right path, 
be kind and gentle to all around you,
look forward down the trail with faith in the right God, 
leave only good behind you on the path,
take only good along as you go. 
Like a Heeler, run them all with joy!
Happy trails, my friend.
