mister hesitates, thinking on the landing, and looks down at me. he tells himself silently, 
i can do this. i open the door and duck outside to get him started. when i look in he's trundling down in his own arthritic fashion. 
i feel a thrumming in my body to see him working with his body. i can feel when he limps, and when he strains to rise, i can feel him smile as he runs up alongside me from behind. the dog's an inspiration to me.