My Life as a Johnny Cash Song

I love the Man in Black. I just never thought my life would be one of his songs. I have been trying to pinpoint when things started to go south. My guess is 2007. I had the prospect of a trip to Africa to keep me distracted but I did start to notice in 2008. It wasn’t until I returned that the slide into a JC song got real. That’s when the shit approached the fan, pardon my French. Here’s why. After months of stress, layoff rumors and multiple interviews with no offers, I did get laid off, managing to keep my job only because people I liked and respected left for greener pastures. My business fell off a cliff. I had financial woes. I was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. I decided to sell my house. My dad died. My dog died. My house sold and now I have <shudder> to move. And I ain’t got no man. OK, that last part is the last thing on my mind right now but, hey, that’s life in a JC song. At least I never picked cotton or shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.

Farewell to My Pal

My pal DOG is gone. He did, in fact, have his opposite-of-birthday one week ago. I haven’t been able to think about posting anything sooner. It’s been a tough week since. Not only because I miss him but I’ve had an upswing in vertigo attacks (yet another post) that have kept me from doing anything but the essentials.

I bought him a t-bone steak the night before and cooked it for him rare with butter. He really enjoyed it and the bone, too. I had to lock Ruby out of the room while he ate. I caught her once chewing on the bone which she’d stolen from him. “Ruby, did you steal DOG’s last meal?” I saved a small bit for him for the morning. Then I held him on the couch while I sipped my coffee and cried.

I took him to Christown Animal Hospital. They were very compassionate but matter-of-fact. I needed them to be that way. I was holding together by a thread as it was. They let me stay with him. I won’t describe it except to say it was over quickly and I wouldn’t have missed one minute of it.

I made a short video of him using Animoto. I’m not done with it. I hope to get more photos from my brother and sister. I also have some video to add. You’ll have to forgive me for making the maudlin choice of “Amazing Grace” for the soundtrack. I really love that song. Plus, it’s sad anyway so why not go for it?

My sister and I agreed that he would be creamated. At first she wanted me to bring him home to Idaho for burial but we nixed that idea pretty quick. I just couldn’t see driving 14 hours with a dead DOG in the trunk. Too weird. I will pick up his ashes next week.

The dog was a gift and I miss him.

DOG’s Opposite-of-Birthday

DOG’s opposite-of-birthday is tomorrow morning. That’s all I can bear to call it, the opposite of his birthday. We don’t actually know when his birthday is. His age is hovering around 17. As near as my sister and I figure, he adopted her in 1995. It might even have been 1994 and he wasn’t a puppy then. G. figures he was about five years old but if that’s true he’s older than my calculation. In the end it doesn’t make a difference. He’s failing, confused, unable to sit or walk well and poops in the house nearly exclusively. This last bit is proof that he’s not in there anymore. Still, making the appointment was one of the strangest things I’ve ever had to do. I’ve known this decision was coming for a while and I’ve been unable to make the call until now. I’m planning to make a memorial video so if anyone has pictures of him, send them my way.