Alva James-Johnson: Country dog still brings miracles

It's a nice cool evening and I'm walking with my dog, Country, along narrow country roads.

There's so much greenery, and I'm thinking, "Alva, enjoy this while it lasts. Winter is just around the corner."

Country, as some of you may recall, is my miracle dog. He became part of our family shortly after we moved to Columbus three years ago. He was a gift from friends who live on a farm in Seale, Ala. And they named him Country because he would belch like he had no manners. (I guess "excuse me" is just for humans.)

Country, a shepherd-spaniel mix, soon ran away and we couldn't find him for six weeks. Then one day, I received a call from a woman who said she knew of his location, and we got him back just in time for Christmas.

The very first column that I wrote for the Ledger-Enquirer was about that experience and how the dog helped bring us together with our neighbors.

Well, a lot has changed since that time. We live in the country now, and Country, whose name befits the environment, is still a wanderer. But he always finds his way back home.

My daughters, meanwhile, are older and caught up in their typical teenage lives. So, Country has become my walking companion. Sometimes when we're on a trail, he stops suddenly, straightens his back and lifts one of his paws, while sniffing for something lurking in the woods.

That's when I know there's a squirrel, fox or a deer nearby and Country is ready to chase.

I've lived in urban centers most of my life, originally being from Brooklyn, and I'm not much into wildlife.

Truth be told, I'm not really into pets, either. Country was just too cute to resist.

But I'm still open to new experiences, and Country has taught me that it's good to get out and explore. And I'm actually starting to like it.

There's another benefit when I walk with Country. I get a little exercise, which, like wildlife, is something I've avoided over the years. As a naturally small-framed woman, there was little motivation in the past. But as I age, I'm beginning to feel a few aches in parts of my body that I didn't even know existed.

And then there's that ever expanding girth -- now an American epidemic.

According to a recent study by U.S. health researchers, the size of the average American waistline increased by more than an inch over the past decade. The belly is the worst place to have fat, health experts say, because it's the location of so many vital organs. And that's exactly where all the fat goes when I eat Doritos. Just my luck.

That's why I thank God for Country. He gets me up and moving even when I don't feel like it.

Yesterday, we walked for miles, along hills and valleys, enjoying the scenery and all that nature has to offer.

When we returned, I felt exhausted but looked forward to more of the same.

Country, you see, still brings miracles!

This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 12:10 AM with the headline "Alva James-Johnson: Country dog still brings miracles."