What a Sunday......

[Rex Grigg]

This morning the wife and I headed down to the National Geographic warehouse sale. It's a traveling sale that hits two cities a year. And if you ever get a chance to go do so. Even if you have to drive overnight.

Since both the wife and I love books we ended up spending $360 on National Geographic books (there goes the new digital camera). But the total retail value of the books we purchased was around $1500. It's a good thing I went today when the selection was a bit picked over or I would have easily spent over $500.

[Gomer]

WOW! Care to list any of the highlights?I'll keep an eye out. If it does come my way, how soon before the doors open should I arrive?

[Rex Grigg]

I was not able to be there Friday which was the first day of the sale. But I would get there early. From what I gather they had about 50% of their books at the sale. I'm not sure how one would know where the next warehouse sale is going to be other than contacting them or living in the city where it will be.

[Momotaro]

What a Sunday? You got that right.

On Sunday morning, I had to put down my dog. My pal Petie.

Mom called about 12:45am to tell me the dog wasn't doing well. His health was failing, but ol' Pete had a way of dodging the reaper that was masterful, to say the least! He was an older guy, 14, not too old for a poodle (poodles are great dogs, no kidding), but he had some issues. He had a heart murmur, and had chronic renal problems. I gave him 400ml of subcutaneous fluids everyday and Aluminum hydroxide to flush out his kidneys. Anyway, when Mom called, I could hear him in the background, crying. That dog never cried, ever. I booked up to my mothers and found the dog under her bed in a bad way. He was crying, panting, and flopping about. I moved the bed and picked him up, just trying to calm him down and soothe him. He was out of it. My mother told me he was agitated and flopping around, walking into furniture.

Things just didn't look good for the old man.

There is an emergency vet a few miles away. Mom and I jumped into the car, (I jumped in, my mother is getting old herself and doesn't do the "jumping" thing" anymore) and we flew over to the vets. Pete was struggling, but my mother just held onto him, wrapped in his favorite blanket. It was a ten minute drive, all the way we knew this was the last ten minutes we were going to be spending with "our boy".

We got to the vets about 1:45am and they came out for the dog. I gave the tech my pal, and told her quietly so Mom wouldn't hear, "take it easy on him, don't put him through too much". I don't know why I was so secretive. My mother is a grown adult, she knew what was going on. She knew the outcome. I guess I just wanted to try and protect her. I gave the receptionist my info, and we were escorted to the examination room. My mother and I sat there for a while. We talked. We talked about what was going on. We talked about all the crazy things Petie had put us through. We talked about the amount of care we had given Pete. We talked about what was going to be happening sooner than either one of us could have ever really imagined. The vet came in the room quietly. She had to know what Mom and I were talking about. How could she not? I said to her, the old boy isn't doing too well is he. She said no, he wasn't. " I think this is it" I said to the vet as I looked at my mother. Mom and I both wanted to cry at that moment, but neither one of us would. We were both being strong for each other. The vet said that that was an option. I asked the vet, "If he were your dog, what would you do?" She just shook her head and told me, "it's time". I looked at Mom, and she looked at me, we nodded at each other in agreement with the vet. The three of us talked about his history, and how much time and effort, not to mention money (but that was never an issue) we had put into caring for our favorite "senior citizen". The vet asked us if we wanted to stay with ol' Pete as he was euthanized. Mom quickly said "NO!", I said yes. My mother looked at me, I told her I didn't want the old guy to be alone when he went. We were with him through so much, the least i could do was be there with him as he slipped away.

I was ushered into what they called a "Family Room". It was a cozy place soft lighting, nice comfy chairs. I waited. It was about 2:00am. As I waited my mother wandered over. She asked if he was gone, tears running down her face, I told her no and asked if she wanted to wait with me. She quickly walked away. The vet eventually brought my buddy in. He was calm and wrapped in a towel. Of course I cried. He was my friend. He was a character! I stroked under his chin and patted his head. I told him how much we all loved him, how we would all miss him, and I thanked him for being such a good boy. The vet was absolutely wonderful. She petted him and held him as if he was her own. I would go so as far as to say there was a tear or two in her eyes also.

I couldn't stay. Pete was so peaceful in the vets arms. He had quieted down, and looked tired. He was tired. Tired of the injections, tired of the medicine, tired of the vet visits, tired of being sick. I asked the vet if she would hold him like she was holding him while I was there when they did it. She said she would, but I made her promise me anyway. "Right thing to do Doc?" I asked her one final time, all the while knowing it was. "Yep, right thing, Mike". I kissed my buddy one last time, told him I loved him, and walked out. "Good bye Pete!" I haven't cried like that since my father died. I pulled myself together before I saw my mother. If she saw me crying, she would cry. It's just like yawning sometimes. "Is he gone?" she asked. " He's gone, Mom. Pete's gone".

We got back to Mom's house about 3:00AM. It was quiet. Later that morning my mother cleaned up some of Pete's stuff. She threw out Petie's medicine and the needles, washed out his bowl and wrote his name on the bottom, and straightened up his bed. I made arrangements to have Pete picked up from the vet's and privately cremated. He deserves that much. I also picked out a nice urn for Pete's cremains.

Mom and I must have called each other a dozen times Sunday afternoon. Not to cry, but to reminisce and console each other. I went up to her place this afternoon for lunch and the house was unusually quiet. Pete wasn't waiting for me at the top of the stair today. I walked over to his empty bed and picked up the "get-well toys" my brother-in-law gave Pete last weekend. I saw his dish up on the counter. "He was the life of the house" my mother said. "He was Mom" I answered. He was.

My pal Pete 11/9/90-12/5/04

What a Sunday indeed, Rex.

Mike

[vlh]

I am sorry Mike.

[glass-gardens.com]

Mike,

My deepest sympathies for your loss Mike from someone who's pets are as much family as any other member.

[Ibn]

Quite touching ... You have my condolences, Mike.

It's amazing how we can become so attached to certain pets. I still remember my ex gf's dog, which is a shih tzu. He's getting quite old himself, about to hit 15, and it's been interesting to see him age these past couple of years. The black hair on his back has turned gray this past year, and his eyes are slowly fading on him...

[Piscesgirl]

Oh boohoooo I'm so sorry, Mike! Oh goodness I get so sad hearing about the passing of pets

[Urkevitz]

Mike sorry about your loss. I hope I can handle the death of my pets as well as you did.

[Momotaro]

Thanks everyone. You can't believe how you thoughts have cheered me up a bit.

I really had no intention of mentioning this, but the thread title just struck a chord.

It is a sad thing to deal with, but I (and Mom) rest assured with the confidence that we did all we could to help Petie while he was ill. We could have been understandably selfish and tried to pull Pete through Sunday nights episode, but what good would that have done. Know what I mean?

Mike

[amanda huggenkiss]

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Mike. I know what it's like to go through something like this. I confess I had to skim through parts of your post because it was dredging up too mainy painful memories for me. You did the best thing for him.

Take care.

[m3th0d]

I have to admit that story brought a tear to my eye just reading it. I have some really painful memories as well and I know how you're feeling man.

Feel better.

[Momotaro]

Hey, thanks Eddie, and everyone else who was kind enough to take a minute and reach out to me!

You kindness is touching and really appreciated.

Mike