We put my dog, Abby, down.
I got Abby for my 13th birthday when she was 4 months old. I had her for 12 1/2 years. I knew this day would eventually come. Abby always had problems. One of the funnier ones was that the vet wanted to give her braces to fix her teeth because she had too many for her mouth. We opted just to pull the teeth. (Funny thing about that was that it was around the same time I got my braces...for the same problem. I had too many teeth for my mouth!) I could go on and list her problems, but there is no point. She had several issues and my parents decided it was time. I agreed. Though, as much as I cried over the matter, one could beg to differ. I had been preparing myself for this day for about a year. And if it didn't happen now, it would be in 6 months or a year. The vet said that most people actually wait too long, because they're selfish and can't let go. He said that we did the right thing by doing it now. She was in pain and pretty miserable but had we held on longer, she would have suffered more. I didn't want that to happen.
I think I'm better now. I cried the weekend before it happened, the day of, and a couple of days after. But life moved on. Though, every time I hear a dog story....you know, those ones where the dog was faithful to the end...I tear up. I'm crying now. It hasn't been that long since it happened. Someone asked me if I was ready for another dog a day or so later and I adamantly said I was not. Yes, I will get another dog one day. But not now. Someday, though. I miss my girl. She was a great dog
It occurred to me, in the midst of my crying that weekend, that I had not cried this hard since last August, when my Great-Grandmother passed away. Again, it was something the family had known was coming. For me, I was 3,000 miles away from her and hadn't seen her in almost 3 years so it was especially difficult. On the anniversary of her death, I was with family. We were not celebrating her life, however. We were celebrating something that was coming up...
...On the 14th, my sister got married. She was the absolute most gorgeous bride I have ever seen. Seriously, she rivaled any bride I have seen in a magazine. Words do not describe how she looked.
The day was exciting, of course, but added elements like the weather, made it more exciting. The ceremony was outside but there were a threat of storms. Not just our typical mid-summer storm but a tornado and hail producing storm. There was a lot of praying that day. Even as I was walking down the aisle to take my place as a bridesmaid the sky was growing dark and the wind was picking up. I prayed the whole time during my walk. Then during the ceremony, a gust came through and I thought the flowers on a pillar beside me were going to crash to the ground. They didn't and I'm glad because I would have busted out laughing. At the end of the ceremony, and this is the best part, right as Pastor said " you may kiss your bride" the skies opened up and the sun shone down on the happy couple. It stayed until they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Then as soon as they got out of sight, the clouds came back and the sky turned gray again. The rain stayed away until everyone was inside at the reception. Then, the storm came and they had the best fireworks show I've ever seen. The lightening was going across the sky. It was horizontal not vertical like you're used to seeing. It was pretty spectacular.
This month started rough. Very rough. But life moves on. While I lost a dear friend, I was also able to see my sister start a life with her best friend. Those are both days I will never forget. Totally different in every way. But both left the same, lasting impression.
Life moves on. Each day brings something new. This quote sums up how I've felt thus far this month. I like it, though, I'm not sure who said it and neither is Google...
Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
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