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| Today's cartoon is doing double-duty in both of my blogs. |
Okay, everyone here already knows I have an unusual sense of humor with some cartoons more or less being black holes from which no light can escape. This would be one of those.
On Saturday, I had to make the call for in-home euthanasia of our dear old dog, Ladybug. The sweet girl (about 14?) had bone cancer, failing kidneys, arthritis, and more. I wouldn't have let her be in pain and she wasn't. I walked her with a tote device and maintained her med schedules more closely than my own. But her strength and interest in life were ebbing and on Saturday, I could see it in her eyes.
So we had a service come to our home rather than scare her one last time with a trip to the vet, and things went very smoothly. Bug wasn't scared or stressed and I was with her every step of the way. Of course, the pain I was feeling was off the charts (and truthfully still is). But it was the gentlest death anyone could hope for.
That being said, when Bug's heart stopped, the sweet young vet (Dr. Katie) said "she's crossed the rainbow bridge." And it was a kind thing to say, but it sure didn't FEEL like any rainbows had been involved. And afterwards, the words nettled me and I created the cartoon above. Not to make light of the situation, not to belittle the wonderful vet or anyone else who uses that expression, but just...to vent, I guess.
Most people here are aware (I think) that Johnny Optimism came into being when my mother died suddenly and circumstances wouldn't let me fly out for any kind of closure. And so I started creating dozens of Johnny Optimism cartoons as a way to let out my pain...attempting to laugh, however bitterly, to keep from crying. And here, many years later, we still are. And the world still sucks too often and I still try to fight back with humor.
All of which is probably more than you need to know, so let me be perfectly honest: I could sure use a hug or two right now.
And in return, I'll try to make a more lighthearted post on StiltonsPlace.com either later this week or on Monday of next week. It will be funny, holiday-oriented, and introduce you to my exciting new role as a professional public Santa Claus. If I can't milk an anecdote or six out of that, I'm not the man I think myself to be.
Hug your dogs and spouses if you've got 'em, and your kids if they get jealous. -Stilt
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| She was a Good Girl. |
