Pumpkin, a grey tiger cat, hit twice by a car on state route 10 in front of our house. The second time took her. She was a picky eater, and my sweet mother cooked liver for her every day.
Zeke, a black lab mutt, who, like your dog, had a taste for wood and regularly ate the woodwork in my apartment. My first husband got Zeke in the divorce.
Sonny-dog, a golden retriever-border collie mix who was the smartest and best family dog we ever had. He developed cancer and when it hurt him too much, we fed him a T-bone steak and a kind vet came to our house and euthanized him in our backyard - where he is buried, wrapped in my son’s favorite Blood Brothers t-shirt - while we four held him. For the next 3 days, we sat vigil at his grave in the company of a butterfly who refused to leave until we did. Tonks, a stinky and naughty little black puggle who ate everything including used tampons and THC gummies, and is buried next to Sonny Dog wrapped in my son’s second favorite Blood Brothers t-shirt. And Missy-Cat, our beloved guardian cat who found my son when he was deep into his heroin addiction, and who - I believe - kept him alive until he got clean. Just shy of N’s first clean anniversary, Missy left during a thunder and lightning storm, and never returned. I imagine she found another boy to guard and keep alive. I still miss them all.
Oh how much the animals in my life have meant to me! Thank you for sharing the different personalities of the animals you've had relationships with. I was a little worried about reading this essay now, as yesterday we decided to put down our dog Lola, and I'm flooded with tears and memories. Lola is almost 16 and a half years old and my first dog. She's a special dog, "self-possessed" as my best friend called her when she first met Lola all those years ago, but sweet, and super snuggly. Your essay has such a nice tone, as is usual of your writing in general, that it didn't exacerbate my despair. Thanks, Carley.
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear that you had to say goodbye to Lola. I think I’ve seen photos of her on Insta. I bet you gave her a wonderful life .🩷🩷🩷🩷 “Self possessed” is such a great way to describe an animal. I’m glad my essay felt soothing and not too upsetting. Sending you a lot of love.
Thanks. I realize what I wrote was confusing. Lola's still alive. The vet is coming to our house on Tuesday to euthanize her. This is such a sad and weird time. Waiting, crying, knowing this is the right thing to do, but feeling horrible about doing it. Indulging Lola in homemade roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, filet mignon, pureed pumpkin, cheese puffs, watermelon, rice, and pasta allows me to see her take pleasure in the short time she has left. The best girl.
Oh no! I’m sorry I misunderstood. This sounds so hard! I had thus experience with my cat Rudy (he’ll be in part 2 if I get to that) though we took him to the vet to be euthanized. I’m glad the vet is coming to you and Lola and also that she’s getting so many treats. Sending you so much love this weekend and on Tuesday. 🩷🩷🩷🩷
Pumpkin, a grey tiger cat, hit twice by a car on state route 10 in front of our house. The second time took her. She was a picky eater, and my sweet mother cooked liver for her every day.
Zeke, a black lab mutt, who, like your dog, had a taste for wood and regularly ate the woodwork in my apartment. My first husband got Zeke in the divorce.
Sonny-dog, a golden retriever-border collie mix who was the smartest and best family dog we ever had. He developed cancer and when it hurt him too much, we fed him a T-bone steak and a kind vet came to our house and euthanized him in our backyard - where he is buried, wrapped in my son’s favorite Blood Brothers t-shirt - while we four held him. For the next 3 days, we sat vigil at his grave in the company of a butterfly who refused to leave until we did. Tonks, a stinky and naughty little black puggle who ate everything including used tampons and THC gummies, and is buried next to Sonny Dog wrapped in my son’s second favorite Blood Brothers t-shirt. And Missy-Cat, our beloved guardian cat who found my son when he was deep into his heroin addiction, and who - I believe - kept him alive until he got clean. Just shy of N’s first clean anniversary, Missy left during a thunder and lightning storm, and never returned. I imagine she found another boy to guard and keep alive. I still miss them all.
Pumpkin! Zeke! Sonny-dog! Tonks! Missy-Cat! What extraordinary creatures! Thanks for sharing Jeanne. This is such a beautiful piece of writing.
Oh how much the animals in my life have meant to me! Thank you for sharing the different personalities of the animals you've had relationships with. I was a little worried about reading this essay now, as yesterday we decided to put down our dog Lola, and I'm flooded with tears and memories. Lola is almost 16 and a half years old and my first dog. She's a special dog, "self-possessed" as my best friend called her when she first met Lola all those years ago, but sweet, and super snuggly. Your essay has such a nice tone, as is usual of your writing in general, that it didn't exacerbate my despair. Thanks, Carley.
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear that you had to say goodbye to Lola. I think I’ve seen photos of her on Insta. I bet you gave her a wonderful life .🩷🩷🩷🩷 “Self possessed” is such a great way to describe an animal. I’m glad my essay felt soothing and not too upsetting. Sending you a lot of love.
Thanks. I realize what I wrote was confusing. Lola's still alive. The vet is coming to our house on Tuesday to euthanize her. This is such a sad and weird time. Waiting, crying, knowing this is the right thing to do, but feeling horrible about doing it. Indulging Lola in homemade roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, filet mignon, pureed pumpkin, cheese puffs, watermelon, rice, and pasta allows me to see her take pleasure in the short time she has left. The best girl.
Oh no! I’m sorry I misunderstood. This sounds so hard! I had thus experience with my cat Rudy (he’ll be in part 2 if I get to that) though we took him to the vet to be euthanized. I’m glad the vet is coming to you and Lola and also that she’s getting so many treats. Sending you so much love this weekend and on Tuesday. 🩷🩷🩷🩷
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