Grugger’s Way

Again yesterday, we experienced that agonizing realization that there was nothing further to be done for our pet and the decision to release him from Earthly agony was one we reached reluctantly but with compassion.

Sadly, we said our good-bye’s to our black and white cat, dear “Oscar,” yesterday. He suffered an inexplicable circulation problem that resulted in poor blood flow to his hind legs, causing weakness and atrophy. That his mind was still sharp and eyes bright with life and alertness is what causes us the most pain, I think. If he were aged and his eyes were tired and dull we would simply acknowledge that he had lived a normal life span. To see him in his prime, and yet unable to move normally, was painful for us as well as for him.

The exercise of this “power” that humans have over animals is not really debated; it is considered “humane” to put an animal out of its misery and pain. When we choose to have pets in our lives we have to realize that we may be faced with the “life or death” decision, even more than once, when the pets that we love are approaching the end of their life spans.

The most difficult decision is often to choose between the cost of surgery and the “value” that we place on our love for the pet. How much is a cat worth? A rich man or woman might not hesitate to spend $1000 or more to extend a cat’s life by a couple of years, but for most of us, that would not be possible.

I realize that it is unfair to characterize animal euthanasia to be akin to “pulling the plug” on a human, but, speaking from direct personal experience, I can attest to experiencing some of the same emotional jolts to my psyche.

I have been reading a LOT of material on the health benefits of meat, and, other than iron and protein, I just don’t see reasons to put my health at risk just for the flavor (which I have ALWAYS enjoyed).

While I like the taste of a rib eye steak, the smell of it cooking is almost enough to gag me. I know there is a mind-game going on here, and I don’t oppose killing animals for meat, I just don’t do it myself (any more) and I let my brain be taken over by emotion.

I’ve often said that my wife is turning me into a woman as I get older and older. I don’t talk about guns and trucks anymore, and don’t have very many “guy” friends to talk with about golf, football or fishing. Since I am retired now and the wife works full time, I do the grocery shopping, and quite a bit of the cooking. I do laundry (my OWN only), and vacuum some. I feed dogs and cats and take care of the yard. Perhaps becoming a vegetarian is the next step in my genetic transcendence.

One thing that undoubtedly influences me in my dietary choices is my spouse, of course. What we put on the table has a LOT to do with what she wants, and she is vegetarian. So, that kind of helps explain my situation.

If I end up being 90 years old, with no cancer or heart disease, I will have to give her a great deal of the credit. At that age, I will feel free to eat just about anything I want, that is, anything my old teeth could chew.

I could easily go on a rampage and list hundreds of types of people and activities that really annoy me, but who else cares?

Let’s see if you recognize and can empathize with some of these:

Animal poop in public places

Open-mouth, tongue-wagging, SLURPY kisses on television. Not a turn-on, it’s not REAL! It’s television!

Parents who don’t control their kids in grocery stores.

People who never have their money ready at check-out. “Oh, I have to pay now? Let me find my checkbook.”

Kids who run up and down escalators, usually in the opposite direction. (ok, I used to do this too, but now I am an adult)

People who fart in elevators. (This might make every list.)

When the “Breaking News” icon comes on the television, or my e-mail notification says something like the same thing, my stomach tightens up and I prepare for the worst.

Pretty much I have been this way since the World Trade Center was destroyed on September 11, 2001. I always expect to see that someone has been seriously injured or killed or assassinated, or a bomb exploded or a kidnapping, or sniper or other horrific event.

What an awful way to live. I am fairly certain I am not alone.

I can sit here, day after day, and just wait for something to happen, or I can learn to ignore the news headlines and internet and television. That’s pretty much exactly what my wife does—and she is a lot happier than I am.

Frankly, I am tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop. It is agonizing over things that haven’t happened.