I guess I'm getting to be a bit of a big softy the older I get. That old Gladiator was a haggard, scarred up, battle tested beast who obviously lived a full life of fightin' & lovin'. He looked really content to just be enjoying some of his last apples during his last glimmer of his last warm fall sunshine. He earned it.

Our encounter made me wonder and ponder a bit about if'n I'll ever put my guns in the ground.