Tag: loss

JANUARY 12, 2024 -A SERENE FAREWELL TO A FURRY FRIEND

S R Janssen

From time to time, we are encounter moments that open the door to thoughts of life and death. One such moment came my way today when I accompanied a friend to the veterinarian’s office where she would bid farewell to her beloved canine companion of fifteen years.

The dog was old. His once-vibrant spirit was gradually dimming as the weight of age took its toll. There was no doubt he had only a short time left on this earthly journey, perhaps no more thana month.

Given the circumstances and the love my friend had for her furry friend, she decided to ease his passage to prevent needless suffering,

It was a privilege and a poignant experience to witness the process. The procedure itself was serene and gentle. First, a catheter was inserted into the dog’s foreleg. Then as the time approached, his owner elected to cradle him in her arms during his final moments.

The process started with two injections of a sedative, that made the dog drowsy to the point of unconsciousness. The dog experienced no fear or anxiety likely due to the numbing effects of the sedative and the comforting presence of his owner.

The final injection stopped his heart within 60 seconds. By all accounts, it was peaceful and humane way for him to leave a life that had become limited and confining.

What struck me most during this experience was the absence of fear or struggle on the dog’s part. He seemed to sense the inevitability of his situation, and the presence of his owner’s love provided him with the comfort he needed in his final moments. It was a poignant reminder that even in the face of death, love and compassion can make all the difference.

Witnessing this transition from life as we know it didn’t prompt any concerns about my own mortality. There was a time when thinking about my own mortality frightened me. Time and the loss of family and friends has allowed me to accept it as a natural part of the human experience. I no longer fear thoughts of life and death. I rarely think of it at all because I focus my days on living as fully as possible.

In the grand scheme of things, life and death are part of the same cycle, and the love we share with our fellow beings, whether human or animal, transcends the boundaries of mortality.

This experience served as a reminder that it’s not the end that defines us but the moments of love, connection, and compassion we share along the way.

Love, empathy, kindness and passion for something, even as simple as jigsaw puzzles, are the threads that weave the fabric of a life, making the journey from life to death more meaningful.

Children are the Point of it All- REALLY?

S R Janssen

Feeling guilty, I was late night binge watching a police procedural wherein a bereaved mother, whose son had been murdered 30 years ago, sadly comments to the investigating detective “without my child, what is the point?”

My stars and garters, although she grieved her son had she really squandered thirty years clinging to the thought her life had no point? That’s not sad, that’s appalling.

I realize the scriptwriter had to have this bereaved mother say something. But if it was written with the intent to elicit some sympathy from the audience, it certainly fell flat with me. With a world filled with need, with all the children, elders, dogs and cats and plants who need, she couldn’t find a point to her life!

Instead of feeling sympathy l wanted to boot her up the backside.  Dollars to donuts her teenage son must have felt exasperated and trapped by a mother who considered him the be all and end all.  At least once a day I bet he muttered under his breath “Mom, get a life.”

In conclusion, the notion that our offspring are the alpha and omega of existence might seem like the ultimate sitcom plot twist, but it’s time to flip the channel on that perspective. There’s a whole world out there with characters of all shapes and sizes So, instead of being the star of a one-note melodrama, let’s embrace life’s improv session.