Anonymous wrote:My dog recently died. He was elderly, blind, deaf, and quite ill, so his last six months involved a lot of care. Before he got really really ill, the last 6 to 9 months of his life, we were becoming quite hesitant to leave him and our other dog at a boarding place, as we had been doing, because he was too old. In his last 2 months we really couldn't even leave him alone in the house at all even for errands, so my husband and I tag teamed. We were working from home anyway. He died in July.
This week, we had friends over for dinner and one said something to the effect of "I'm so sorry about ( DOG), but I guess you feel freer now and relieved that you guys can take a trip. It was probably hard not being able to do that this year. " Then she went on to discuss her latest trip and another one, exclaiming " "We aren't going to get a dog again ( they had one dog many years ago), because a dog is just going to hold us down." Okay, I understand. I do, and people do say weird things after a pet dies, so I didn't take offense in that way, BUT-
I had to walk into the kitchen where I did a quick dash to the bathroom. Why? I couldn't control myself- I was literally heaving with tears. I was stunned by my own visceral reaction. I couldn't even stop crying. After collecting myself, reapplying basic makeup upstairs, and reentering the group, no one was the wiser, except me. What I learned was there was nothing, not a trip, freedom of time or responsibility, money, etc , that would have ever superseded my love for my dog even during those last tough months. It was an honor to care for him, F everything else. Really. Also, when he was healthy and we picked them both up at the boarding place up after a trip, it was, hands down, the best part of the trip. I'll take the dogs, everyone else can have the big trips.
Damn. That is so well expressed. I may use this to argue to my husband that we get a dog. I've been wanting one for years, but we've been delaying because of the kids needing attention and then when they are older it'll be we should do lots of travelling. I'm tried of holding back from what I really want. Thanks for giving me the words to help express myself!
|
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}