Death

Hi LDs. How are you on this fine Monday, July 4th - America's Independence Day?

I'm doing well, considering.

See, my mum's husband died last Sunday evening. He'd been in hospital for the last three weeks or so - liver was functioning at 10%, kidneys were shutting down, and he was retaining too many fluids. Alcoholism will do that to a person. They took him off of the ventilator and the sedation Sunday evening, and he was gone within an hour. Hubs and I took a few days bereavement leave and were up there with her, helping her stay busy. There was a family-only viewing Friday evening, and he was being cremated directly afterward so that his sisters could have some of his ashes when they left Saturday. Saturday afternoon/evening, all of his friends got together and had a party in my mum's front yard.

For a bunch of drunks, they kept the yard pretty damn clean - they were actually using the trash and recycling bins! Bill (next door neighbor) smoked up some pork shoulder, Whiskey John made a hella-good potato salad and pasta salad (even gave me the recipe), I supplied the dessert (pudding delight, bitches).

Some of those guys, for all their attitude and anger and loud personalities, actually cried when they saw George's box of ashes. Sobbing old men are the worst. There was more than once that beer tributes were given.

As much as he annoyed my mother and drove her up the wall, he would do anything for anyone. And it breaks my heart to see my mum so lost. I mostly didn't like him - he made an ass out of himself (and in turn, mum) at my wedding reception; he was lazy and didn't work; and he was an alcoholic (which is what ultimately killed him) - however, in some ways, he made my mum happy.

And that's all I really cared about. We're getting her a cremation necklace for her birthday in a few weeks. It's a dragon and really cool. She picked it out, and it suits both her and George well.

I think I'll actually miss you, ya dickhead. Give the Devil some hell for me, will ya?

Be safe out there, LDs.

Ms D

Sadness...

We had some sadness in our house this evening.

LDs, when we adopted two more members into our family two years ago, I was very not ok with the idea, but Mr Realist insisted. He wanted rats. He did his research and learned about them and found a rat breeder and we bought sisters Bonnie and Sally.

Bonnie has always been the more aggressive of the two, kind of like a big sister. Sally was content to let things be as they were. They didn't bite, like Trixi did (bitch). They were relatively socialized, unless you had flavors on your fingers. :)

But within the last week, Sally has developed a breathing problem. We did some research...and ratties are susceptible to upper respiratory infections. She hasn't been eating the last couple of days and she's been wheezing. She fell from the middle level of their cage, and wasn't doing so well. Mr Realist held her, and she calmed down, but she was kind of dragging her back legs a bit. She was still moving her tail and back feet though.

Mr Realist put her back into the cage, and Bonnie curled up around her. Sally was restless. She kept moving around, and suddenly we heard a loud thud. She'd fallen from the top level where their bed was and was in the bottom of the cage.

She wasn't moving. Mr Realist picked her up, and her eyes were closed and she wasn't breathing. She never did.

We found a box, wrapped her in a towel, and she's buried out in between the small maple trees at the back of our yard.

LDs, I was not thrilled to get rats when we did.

But we're both going to miss her. Bonnie's already searching the cage for her.

I cried as I held her final resting place as Mr Realist dug the hole. He spent about ten minutes in the bathroom after we were done.

We'll miss you, Sally.

~~

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.

His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Anonymous