“Better Late Than Never,”

is a phrase I like better and better.

In light of it, I never say never

rather “Better late than never.”

I rejoice that I can be so clever

in realizing things I thought

I wouldn’t, couldn’t ever,

like my dog of fifteen years

whom I never understood

for the better.

There are those who said

after dachshund/beagle Happy

died and was off my tether,

he would be waiting at the

Pearly Gates to give me what

for all together.

But then someone sent me

a book on doggie behavior

and I have had four Chocolate

Labs who couldn’t have had

it any better.

Plus my doggie loving wife

said, “Better late than never,

and I’ll put you on my tether

till you treat our dogs better.”

And “Never say never” a

variation on “Better Late

than Never,”

had given me hope while I was

hopeless when

my late wife left prematurely

for the Great-Hereafter.

As sorry as I was that over

twenty-six years I didn’t

behave better,

my wife of eighteen

years says, “Never give

up. You are behaving

steadier and steadier.”

So when things look bleak

and you are ashamed of

your behavior, just say a

prayer and hear the Lord

answer back, “Well, Bub,

better late than never,

so never say never, never ever,

and by the way your dog

Happy after being with us

up here in the hereafter

forgives your sorry you-

know-what, wishes you

well and barks out loud,

“Better late than never and

if you were here and not there,

there would be no more

chances for you to live better.’”

So Happy the dog advised

me to take care

and cherish every moment

ever so rare.