They avoid you, the people you know: friends, family, the medical professionals. They can’t help it. The “C” word is in the air. They just plain look at you differently when there’s cancer in the family. Even if they only think there is. Because they know it means death. I noticed it the first time […]
Human-Animal Bond
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 6
Sometimes we only know the true measure of a person when death stares us in the face. There, at the end of everything, is the simple, plain stark truth of it all. Sometimes the truth is sad. It hurts. Sometimes it exhilarates. This is a story about veterinarians. Four of them. Told in four parts. […]
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 5
Murphy is dying. My beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a tumor on her spleen. Murphy is 13-1/2. Because of early problems, I’ve been cooking for her for 11 years. Turkey, veggies, fruit. Supplements. A strong healthy diet for a vigorous dog. Yes, I’ve been cooking for my dog. It works for us, but it’s […]
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 4
Murphy is dying. Yes, she’s 13-1/2, old for any dog, but somehow her age snuck up on me. After her early difficulties, I thought getting her to 5 was a miracle, but she’s been vigorous for years. She’s actually pretty vigorous now. Suddenly deaf, yes. Sleeps a lot. Loves to eat and explore. Slower with […]
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 3
Murphy is dying. Can’t stop it, might be able to slow it down a bit, as long as she’s comfortable. Not sure. All I’m really sure about is that she’s dying. And that many people, including well-meaning friends, are idiots. I’m sure most idiots don’t mean to be, well, idiots. But here’s a painful situation […]
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 2
So dogs with splenic tumors can abruptly die, or abruptly go into just about dying. Meaning in Murphy’s case, the tumor could rupture and she’ll bleed out. The words ‘bleed out’ and ‘my beloved dog’ just don’t make sense together. They really should never make sense together. Apparently that doesn’t matter. Besides that, what the […]
My Dog Is Dying: The Real Life Crappy Choice Diary, Entry 1
The lure of immortality dances through our lives, weaving delicate patterns that tease us with the possibility. To live forever. And then, of course, we don’t. Honestly, I never expected to live forever. You’re born, crap happens, fun happens, you die. Nope, I never expected to live forever, and I didn’t, either: last February I […]
Love and Choice at the Crossroads
Every January people think about New Year’s resolutions. I never did get that, maybe because I think of life as a choice, and I’m glad I get them. Or I used to be. My work as an intuitive, as one being on the planet, is about choice. How can we grow as a society by […]
Walking the Birthday Walk with Dogs
When you live the human-animal bond, you celebrate birthdays with your multi-species family. Even when the birthday in question is yours and you’re getting older (it happens yearly). Okay, we were celebrating my birthday this time. But it’s in the dead of winter, after Christmas, before spring. In Seattle. Pretty much the weather sucks. Does […]
Solstice Sleeping: Dogs Softly Breathing of Home
I awaken in the night and hear it. Silence. I wait for more. It comes. I smile. I hear the dogs breathing softly in the night. Now, in the longest, darkest time of the year, I awaken in the still, silent night and hear only my dogs’ relaxed breathing. I smile. It’s comforting. Peaceful. My […]