I left early for work and stopped at the 24-hour Food Land to
get some more mayonnaise, some lettuce, and some ham chunks for my bean soup.
The vet called me just before 9:00 a.m. She said when she
got in Scruffy was unresponsive. She got him moving, but then he started having
seizures. She said, “I know he’s a fighter, but I think it’s time.” I told her
to put him down. She asked if I wanted her to wait until I got there to be with
him and I told her “No, I don’t want him to suffer. Put him out of his misery. I’ll
come get him later.”
My boss had overheard the conversation and told me to take
the rest of the day off and leave (I had told her yesterday what was going on).
I told her no, I’d didn’t want to. I’d wait until lunch and then go.
So, I did. I let Jake know and that was hard.
When I got there, the helpful technician who billed me out
said, “I couldn’t believe he didn’t make it. When I left last night, he was
standing up and drinking water.” I know she was trying to be kind, but it didn’t
help.
They reduced my bill about $250.00 from yesterday's estimate, which
I appreciated and I paid the remainder. Then they brought out Scruffy, wrapped
in my yellow blanket and in the cat carrier. I asked them to tell the vet I
appreciated her efforts. They said they would and I left.
I cranked the radio up too loud and drove home. I told
myself it was because Scruff always liked me turning on the radio when I cleaned
the house but I think it really was to distract myself.
Now, I had been thinking about the obvious problem. How the
hell can I bury him? We’re about to have our fourth polar vortex and the ground
is covered with snow and probably frozen three or four feet down.
I thought about cremation, but since I don’t believe in it
myself, I figured he might not either (who knows?) I wanted to bury him next to
Mouse, his longtime buddy buried in front of the St. Francis statue.
When I got home, the garbage man hadn’t come yet. So, I
hustled. I stuffed as much of the frozen food in the small chest freezer in the
garage into the fridge freezer. The rest of it I just threw into the garbage
can. Then I took Scruffy and laid him reverently in the freezer. I’ll keep him
there until the ground thaws. I owe him that. Then I’ll wash out the freezer and
put it out for the garbage gremlins. That’s the best I can do.
I put the damn cat carrier out there as well, and eventually
the trash guys picked everything up.
I sat down, had a good cry, and then took a nap.
I woke up at 4:30 p.m. I took the Dutch oven out of the
fridge and started to warm up the bean soup. I removed the ham hock and the bay
leaf and threw in the ham chunks. I let that warm up while I watched the news.
I felt fidgety, so, I went out in the garage and bent one of
the pipe hangers. I came back in and put it on the dishwasher pipe. Then I
attached it to the wall. I hooked up the ground for the dishwasher to the pipe.
Then I put together a connector and an end cap.
I stuck that in a bucket. I got a flashlight to check for
leaks, turned the shut-off on and there was nothing. I left it on to give it a
12-hour test.
When I was finished, I ate some soup. I let the rest cool
and put the Dutch oven in the fridge. I realized (albeit a bit too late) I have
nowhere left to freeze it.
I watched NCIS and then half of NCIS Los Angeles. I went out in the kitchen to get a glass of
water to take my night pills and stepped my yellow “footie” socks into water!
Damn! I grabbed the flashlight and looked. None of the SharkBite fittings were
leaking. So, I switched the kitchen light on and found the bucket was
overflowing. I apparently had not secured the end cap tight enough on the fitting I
put on the line. Dumb…
I used up three bath towels to clean up the mess. I wated the rest of my show and then
went to bed.
I am sorry, Dad. I appreciate everything you did, as I am sure Scruffy does.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry as well Dad! Scruffy was a great campanion all these years and I will miss him dearly. I love you and hang in there.
ReplyDeleteScruffy is in a better place! Sorry Jake.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Do me a favor and don't give up your day job. A Plumber your NOT!!
ReplyDeleteSorry John, it's so hard to loose a pet for they're more family than family is at times!!!!!
ReplyDelete@Jake & Carla: Thanks! I know this can't be easy on you two, either.
ReplyDelete@GPF: I know. I never said I was a plumber!
@kjg: That is so true!