Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a
ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as
Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm,
petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he
understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without
any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while
after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact
that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to
live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and
being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
I'm sitting out here now, Bacardi at hand, Shakespeare on my phone's browser, admiring how fearless my cat is while climbing palm trees. Tranquility, its a nice feeling.
I can't help but think of all the memories I have of this place. This pool, this apartment. I've literally spent my entire life here. So much of my childhood occurred right here in this pool area. So many conversations with my Noble St crew. Our mischievous ways. This is the place where I first got drunk, learned about sex, drugs, & fighting. This is also where I met my "soul mate" (in a friendship sense: we are the same person til this day).
This is the place I was at the night Aaliyah passed away. I remember coming home and all of us sat in silence here in this pool area. I cried. It was sad... But this is also where Cassie, Cuz-in, & I would just sit for hours doing nothing but reading each others minds. Where Julia, & Keri would talk about love & marriage while Martin, Travis & Isa argued sports and Madden. Where the boys & Jennifer did all their drugs and the rest of us cared for them.
Its bittersweet you know... Here I am, alone in the dark & enjoying it. Every single one of my childhood friends is generally in the happiest times of our lives and that's good. But I keep thinking about Butter and Nomoto, 2 of the people that helped define this place to be such a significant chapter in my life. I keep wondering had they not both died from drug overdose, where would they be now? Would they remember all the times we fought at this place, would they still care for all of us the way they did then? Would we still be laughing and joking together now as well as in the future?
I hate to think things like this because I keep wishing I could have saved them. I wish I had the chance to tell them how much impact they had on me. But I can't. And thus, I sit here...
I thank them for reasons beyond people's normal imaginations. I respected them for always being true to themselves, even when the bad turned them away from themselves. And I love, not just because of them, but because they as well as the rest of my old friends taught me so much that has made me into the amazing being that I am today.
And that, is why I'm happy. Cheers.
