Another Thought About Dying

In response to my last post, when I listed my final wishes, my daughter Heather commented “What about Oscar? Surely there is a role for him.” Oscar is my dog. Heather was obviously joking, but there is a lot of truth to what she said. I think about Oscar quite a bit when I think about dying. Those of you who are not dog lovers will think I’m crazy. But those who are will understand. I don’t know who I would rather die first, him or me. I know that it would be very difficult for me if he were to go first. On the other hand, if I should predecease him, it saddens me greatly to think that he won’t understand where I am. He’ll think I abandoned him. (Side bar to my niece Cheryl: Cheryl this would be the ultimate violation of the trust factor.) I would never abandon Oscar. Oscar has been with me through a divorce and my family moving out of my house. He was with me as I courted my current wife and worried every night whether or not she liked me. He was with me through the death of his brother Felix. He's been with me throughout this disease. Oscar is love. He is love I don’t want to be without. As I am writing this Oscar is sleeping in his favorite spot; on my lap. -------------------------------------------------