Who Has a Lease on Life?

It's been several weeks since my last post and frankly my emotional energy has been sorely zapped. At my last posting (July 20th), I mentioned that my good friend, Dancer lay on a vet's table reeling from the effects of just having a rhinoscopy. And while my prayers were of a positive hope for a better outcome, the tide was swept away from me. My hope was sorely tested as I received the "CALL"-sino nasal transitional cell carcinoma. Prognosis-2 mos. left untreated, 3-5 with chemo, 9 mos. maybe with radiation. My heart broke. And for those of you who are thinking, it's just a dog for cryin' out loud, I'll have a little verse for you at the end.

So, I began to embark on another journey with Dancer, not so much a "death sentence" for that was what I was handed, but instead, a "life sentence". I remember the haunting and prophetic words of one Andy Dufresne, "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and a good thing never dies". He also said, "you can get busy living, or get busy dying". I decided to get busy living with Dancer for whatever time he has left. I truly believe it will be my faith in God, and my unrelenting passion for hope that will see us through.

My dad always used to say, "who has a lease on life"? He wasn't a smart man, not terribly intuitive, and surely his sensitivity was well hidden. But he did say that often, and his words harken to me now. While I know that having a pet gives me the most boundless joy I've ever experienced, and I truly have never loved anything that much, I know it has also given me the most sadness and I have had to face THE most difficult task ever in my life-the decision to let them go. And for now, with whatever time Dancer has left, my love and attention for him will be immeasurable.

Here's the verse I was mentioning earlier for those of you who believe "it's just a dog",

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

I have attached a small video of Dancer with his good buddy cousin-Kris Kringle