esrosedotblog

Last week, Booker was having trouble breathing and he was not eating well.

We went to see Dr. Cutler and she did tests and took X-rays. The report was a bad one. There were growths in his lungs and also in his spleen. There was a dim chance that this could be a fungus in the lungs which is not good news but treatable. The spleen growth said otherwise. Fungus does not spread. He clearly began to not feel well.

He was not evidently in pain but was not able to do much and the last few days he did not want to go for a walk. He could sit and look at the sky and trees and enjoy the air but no walking. This happened when Franklin began his ending. We have his famous picture in the front yard looking into the sky. It is the one we kept and look at.

So, reluctantly, we decided that it was best to say goodbye to our friend Booker.

Dr. Cutler came to the house and we gathered round so we could all have a last snuggle.

We are OK. There is the rational part of it which is some comfort. He was 13. We shared our lives together for just one week shy of five years. He was/is a great guy. Full of heart and love. A hugger. If a dog can hug he would be a champion.

Sadness comes and goes but the reality is that we have no right to expect more than nature is willing to provide.

Taking the sad with the glad is more than a philosophical principle. It is a practice.

So we are practicing away.

Thank you for your good thoughts.

Labels: Booker