Sunday, November 22, 2009

Anti-Thanks part II

Because life’s been force feeding me a big soggy shit sandwich lately, I’m going to lead up to the holiday with a series of suck lists. Hopefully you’re not dealing with these kinds of things so YOU can give extra thanks.

Things that suck about your dog having cancer

• Restraining myself from kicking the vet in the balls when he recommends that I skip the three pack and only buy heartworm treatment a month at a time now
• The steroid treatment that makes him drink, drink, drink and pee, pee, pee – so much for a good night’s sleep or working through lunch
• Listening to him whimper and watching him tremble when we pull into the vet’s lot
• Forget the cost of treatment, how bad is my bank account hurting from constantly buying him new toys and treats
• Realizing we’re both eating like pigs and he’s losing weight, but I’m not
• Wondering how long it will take before I can talk about it without crying
• Realizing that the funky tasting beef jerky we’re sharing expired two months ago, and I’m the one that should have known better than to eat it anyway
• Dealing with non-dog people who just don’t get it
• When we’re doing stuff together, figuring out how not to think about not being together to do those things anymore –

o like racing to and from the garage to carry in groceries
o pulling out household items from the shopping bags one at a time and letting him sniff them until I “finally” get to, ta-da, a new toy!
o the wrestling match that ensues to keep him from scaring the bejeepers out of the pizza delivery man

• repeatedly poking and prodding him to move so I can get into bed, then appreciating that my spot’s all warmed up
• Facing that I might lose one of my best friends way sooner than I thought

5 comments:

  1. Oh gawd...you're preachin' to the choir.

    It's been over 7 1/2 years since I said goodbye to my lovely Jack and we still aren't up to getting another pup. How pathetic is that?
    So obviously I can't give you any reasonable advice on how not to fixate on what's left of the time that you have together.
    I put on a brave face for my wife and I dragged out the inevitable far longer than I should have. I still miss him and his heavy sighs when he'd lay down at my feet..and give me that sideways glance whenever I'd get up..you know that old Do I have to get up or are you just going to the bathroom?
    It's tough sluggin'.

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  2. I'm so sorry. My parents' dog is suffering from a bunch of different illnesses. They couldn't wake her up a few weeks ago. She made it through, but is now on a very special, very expensive diet.

    It really is like losing a member of your family :(

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  3. This made me cry, so sad. We lost our black lab in February due to Cushings Disease. It's horrible when they're sick and you feel pretty much useless.

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  4. Sucks. It all sucks, big time. I know, I lost 2 special members of my family in the space of 3 months. It hurts, and will hurt for a long time, but eventually, you will remember the better times more than the worse times. And that is why we do it. "Keep calm and carry on" as they say.....

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