So I’ve
been putting this off.
We’ve lost
someone. A “someone” most of you may consider a “something”. We don’t, and I’ll
fight you if you argue that fact, and win. Just like she would. ‘cause she was
a fighter, more appropriately a scrapper- fighting above her weight class
against all the things we are, or will be eventually.
This dog,
this fucking dog, was as sweet as honeydew, perhaps with a shape like one and
as vicious without teeth as your grandma (I mean if your Nana ever bit you).
There was
no better joy in life than seeing her do her dachshund run, ears and legs
sprawled, going all out (which in reality was no faster than your Nana could
run on her slowest day, even in her prime).
Warning,
it’s about to get real…(do people say that, or is ‘spoiler-alert’ more
appropriate?).
We are in
fact, surrounded by a great deal of “what-ifs and “meh” these days. Despite all
that, it is my firm belief that no one suffers when people are actively dying
(animal, person or otherwise), I do not consider this an issue of faith. The
physical act of dying is only for the living, so we may grieve and have closure
necessary to move on. It is my estimation that a merciful God (whoever that may
be to you) would do so, simply because the dying are far more willing to move
on before we are.
But Cali,
damn if she didn’t beat Death back time after time. That dog, got beat down, heart stopped,
kidneys stopped and still got back up. I have no idea the pain she may or have
not been in, but through our observation (and my wife’s astute experience as
hospice nurse), and veterinarian intervention, she was ever game. She got meds,
and bounced back better than ever…1…2…3 times over the course of nearly 8
years. 16 years and 3 months as a dog?
Well that’s pretty damn good. And you know what? She drank whiskey and
smoked Marlboros everyday…no wait scratch that last part, different
memoriam. At any rate, I knew a Dachshund that was tougher than you.
R.I.P. Cali – you are
forever missed, the joy and the loss you brought to our lives has literally
(yes literally) been felt across the country)
