The Maximus post led to a lovely outpouring of comments and emails, for which I am tremendously grateful.
One tweet pointed to this very lovely but heartbreaking cartoon. Its comforting and true — and still makes me cry every time I see it.
* Sigh *
As soon as I can read this without welling up, I will know I am finished mourning . . .
Saddest cartoon ever.
Same sentiment, not so sad:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/dog_paradox
THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find – it’s your own affair, –
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!),
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone – wherever it goes – for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear!
We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent,
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve;
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long –
So why in – Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_dog.htm
A vet once sent me a condolence card with this:
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you………….I loved you so – ’twas heaven here with you.
Isla Paschal Richardson
I know how Barry must feel about having a best friend dog pass away. My best friend Teddy Bear, a golden lab, died of cancer a few months ago and still evokes both fond memories and emotions. Thee are good family dogs and great family dogs. Owners know when you have that special greatness it is an especially unique and wonderful family addition. My wife volunteers at our local animal shelter and we are searching for a special rescue dog.
On another note, I read today that Minnie Minoso died at age 92. Those of us from Chicago remember that Minoso was the first black player in a Chicago baseball uniform. He was Cuban, and man could he hit, field and run the bases. I remember watching him at Comiskey park back in the mid 1950s. Important to me outside of being a great ball player, Minnie was likely the first black that our family and friends did not disparage, He crossed the typical view on blacks at the time that was prevalent in so many ways and on so many levels in Chicago. He was the White Sox’s version of Ernie Banks, who appeared a short while later. This was formative to me as a young boy.
Sorry for your loss Barry. Max is a beautiful dog. This is beautiful Cartoon.
My buddy, Goose lies next to me, he looks much like Max, but blond…what mix…that’s only known to God. Goose can be dumb as a rock, but I think it’s an act of charity…he doesn’t want to make me look bad. In fairness, he knows things before I do and emotionally, I’ll never reach his IQ. At slightly over 11 years I value my time with him and cherish memories of our struggles and adventures together.
Not the right time for this stuff, but https://www.petfinder.com/ is; what I believe to be, the oldest operating websites on the web. I found my beloved Bandit at Petfinder back in the day and also Goose. It has a great search engine and I recommend it for those that know what type of dog they want, but still would like to adopt. Petfinder deserves wider recognition for all the dogs it places in homes happy to have a companion. Hopefully, your readers will bookmark the link and spread the word.
Been there several times. I am sorry for your lost.
I came to this site because of your piece on the frozen tundra of Winnipeg (I may have the city wrong). I maintain that your best writing is on matters non-financial (not a knock on the regular writing).
Hang in there with the pooch situation, BR. All things must pass.
One other thought, BR, at some point maybe you can do a financial analysis (I know a lot of the valuation process is arbitrary) of the results of your various activities. I suspect the time and pleasure you got from Max will blow away almost every other investment of your time. At least time with my pooch does for me. Everybody tells me all sorts of other things are important. I don’t think they are right. ;)
Anecdote. Years ago I was at a baseball game my kid was playing in. On the field next us were a bunch guys – mid 40s to late 50s. I sat there with my dog (chocolate lab trapped in a yellow lab’s body) watching them. Almost universally they stopped by as they were leaving to scratch his ears, say hello. I’m convinced our culture is pretty damaging, even to the ‘winners’ (these guys struck me as white collar ‘successful’ types) and perhaps especially to males. Anyway, my dog seemed like a lovely drug to these guys. And of course he loved the attention.