From The Storyteller
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Hello All: From a bitter-sweet memory some 30+ years past, I share a piece of my life that you may be able to relate to. Doug
Lisa For every person who has ever had a pet that died, I offer you Lisa. Lisa became a part of my family when I married Elaine because, as you might suspect, she was already a part of Elaine’s family. She was a Golden Retriever, and her full registered name was Ladybug’s Little Lisa, a.k.a. Lisa. Lisa had a bad hip and Elaine was selected to give her a good home as she lived out her golden years (pun intended). Lisa was smart, gentle with the kids, afraid of thunder storms, and I never saw her act out of anger. She loved raw meat whenever she could get it, but was never a fussy about food. How she could unlatch the backyard gate, that was hard for me to unlatch, is beyond me. She seemed to get out at will, and it usually happened when the neighborhood kids were out front. She was a part of our family for several years before she got sick. We noticed something was wrong when we offered her the “meat” she loved, and while she would take it, she wouldn’t eat it right away. It was a cancer. The term “put her down” still sticks in my throat, and my heart still hurts when I think about making that decision. I realize that some folks feel that when others grieve over the loss on an animal, they’re over reacting. To those folks I simply say the pain that flows from that loss is real. I share Lisa, her memory, and my feelings of grief with all who have lived through a similar experience. Note: Right now, I’m smiling because I am reminded that I never did figure out how she unlatched that gate. Maybe she will show me when we meet in heaven. Moral: Losing a loved one is really tough. |