Skip to main content

Make Him Happy

Slice of Life Challenge
Please join the challenge over at Two Writing Teachers!


I tell my students that I make sense of my life through writing.
I tell them that I write through my pain and my struggle.
I tell them that writing helps me make sense of the unexplainable.
Come on writing...don't fail me now.

Leo...
from 2008


He's my dog
but so much more
my roommate
my confidant
he listens endlessly
without complaint
he snuggles close 
he wags his tail
he protects
he loves...

He's sick.


For the past few months
he hasn't been himself
and 
I've known...
I've known something's wrong
that he's not ok
I told myself I was being a 
worry wart,
jumping to the worst...
Last night
I discovered
I was right

Another trip to the vet
emergency vet
I'll spare you the details
Except to say
the news isn't good

Tumors
Lots of tumors
And a choice...
quality of life
or 
aggressive treatment...

I pick quality of life.

After the exam
and shots
and waiting
the collar
and more waiting

I received instructions
for his care
medications,
bland food,
collar...

So many instructions
I began to ask questions and
Chelsea, the kind tech,
put her hand on my arm
and smiled as she said,
"Just make him happy."





Labels

Labels:

Comments

  1. CatherineMarch 30, 2014 at 5:52 AM

    Oh, Michelle, I'm so sorry that Leo is sick. I know how much he means to you. Sending you both hugs and prayers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. drferreriblogspot.comMarch 30, 2014 at 6:51 AM

    I am sorry to hear about Leo. Somehow, I think you know what he needs most - your love and care. Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deb DayMarch 30, 2014 at 7:38 AM

    So sorry to hear about Leo. The vet tech is right. Just make him happy. He's made you happy for years, now its your turn to do it for him. You'll know what to do.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda BMarch 30, 2014 at 11:05 AM

    It's a wrench in the heart to see our pets decline, not feel well, after remembering their energy, and mostly for us. I'm so sorry for your news, Michelle. Happy you'll be able to make him comfortable for a while longer. Hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. JackieMarch 30, 2014 at 12:10 PM

    That was the perfect advice...which I know you would have done anyway...but it validated your thoughts. I am so sorry to hear that Leo is not well. We just lost our kitty, Nimbus, after 23 years...and there is still a gaping hole in our lives. The pictures of Leo show such a sweet face...with such wise eyes. Leo know your love...and knows you are going to make the right decision for him. Our pets are so attuned to us, and want to take care of us. Know you are in my heart...as well as Leo. Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-rant.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. TaraMarch 30, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    I'm thinking of you - Leo has the most beautiful eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. LynnMarch 30, 2014 at 5:07 PM

    Thinking about you Michelle...

    ReplyDelete
  8. LoraleeMarch 30, 2014 at 6:03 PM

    I am so sorry. My heart aches for you. I understand.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Courtney CassadaMarch 30, 2014 at 7:26 PM

    oh, michelle. i'm so sorry!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. DelightedMarch 30, 2014 at 10:38 PM

    Your post was heart wrenching. Our pets are such a big part of our family. I'm so sorry about Leo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michelle HaseltineMarch 31, 2014 at 5:03 AM

    Thank you everyone! It was a tough day, but it ended on a good note. He took all of this medicine and seemed happier than he had been. This journey will be day by day! I'm grateful for all of the love & support!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts. I love comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Here I Am

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I've been thinking for the past couple of days about this post...but I can't think of anything to write. Frozen in my failure, I want to quit, but I push through and show up here...even though it seems pointless. Who wants to read a blog post about nothing?  I begin to panic a bit...Have I "lost it"? My passion for blogging? My ability to blog? Why can't I think of something clever? What do I have to say that anyone will want to read? (By the way, I'd have all of these answers if it was you asking the questions!) Should I quit? Give up? Accept defeat? NO.  Instead, I show up.  Instead, I remember the words I said yesterday to my seventh-graders,  "Show up. It gets easier." Instead, I write and show grace to myself. Instead, I remember that blogging is a muscle that I haven't stretched in a while and I need to warm up, I need to take some deep breaths. Here I am. Showing up to the page. I'...
17 comments
Read more

Someday...

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers . Do you have dreams? Kids are good at dreaming. I find many adults struggle with it. Speaking for myself, I get so caught up in the everyday drudgery of life, that dreams get nudged aside until they disappear.  It's important to have dreams. I've been writing about my dreams in my notebook and so I thought I'd share my dreams here... 1. Writing a book.  While I'd love to get a book published, my dream is to write a book...to complete the act of writing it.  I've started on this dream and it's hard and challenging and exciting and amazing.  2. Living at the beach.    I love the water, the waves, the ocean smell, the seafood, the sand...all of it! The Outer Banks is my favorite place in the...
23 comments
Read more

Chasing My Dream

I'm doing it. I'm chasing my dream. I've always wanted to run writing retreats and workshops for people, but I've always been too scared to do anything about it...until now. I don't know what's changed...maybe I've changed. I'm not allowing the fear to stop me anymore. I've started Selah Writing Retreats.  The past couple of weeks I've been getting the business end in order. I thought I would hate that...I don't. It's scary, but I am surprising myself with how efficient I am. Yesterday I went to a bank to set up a bank account. The woman I met with was kind and helpful and so enthusiastic about my dream. My website is set up. I've done lots of work on it. I hope you stop by and let me know what you think. It's  selahwritingretreats.com . Balancing creative with business has been challenging but fun. Creating the website, getting a federal tax id, making business cards, planning dates... My favorite voxer group is called Butt Ki...
21 comments
Read more