I took my mother to a funeral of her friend this week. Lovely lady simply slipped away in her sleep. Her bereft family in shock and pulled together to carry out what they knew to be her final wishes for her resting place. Hoping my bladder would hold out I reversed up as close to the little church as I could . I managed to get her into a pew. Then moved my car and got back to the pew and had time to contemplate as the organist played his melancholy best. Actually I was not thinking holy thoughts, I was trying to work out if there was a loo or if I could hide behind a gravestone . Lady B my very awesome friend found a Bentley to do the necessary pee in the interval of an opera we went to years ago!

but thats another story!

Then this story unfolded this week……Getting old. Bladder begins to leak. Calmly accept that. Samples collected. Bladder scanned. No fuss. No anaesthesia needed. Antibiotics. Pain killers. Walking becomes a chore. Bowels join bladder in involuntary emptying. All is becoming difficult. The heatwave of Friday pushes the limits of endurance. 

After much discussion, calm and dignity, lying on a beautiful yellow blanket. Jars of favourite treats laid out. The cannula goes in without any fuss. The anaesthesia syringes are slowly, quietly plunged…drifting off to who knows  where but heaven sounds good to me. 

No this was not a human but our old 16 year old dog. Vet had sorted everything in her clinic. Blanket. Treats. Tissues. Hugs. Human and canine. Carefully planned. Calmly administered. 

Vet and I have become friends as we made the decisions of the last few months.   As she passed me tissues to mop my tears memories came flooding back. The days he spent as ‘therapy dog ‘ for eldest daughter battling ‘ME’. His favourite pubs and best beaches. Whoever knew he insisted on only swimmming near the 🛟!  16 dog years so about 112 human years. Longer than the vet had ever known. Bit of a hero that one. He joins all the others I’ve despatched ‘ Norman’ the mutt Dad and I had to send on his way because he tried to follow us across Spain. He was joined by Hamish the footballer terrier who decided to elope across a main road.  And Simba the over anxious attacker ( 3 strikes and out!) I also despatched  Tembo who actually brought youngest son back to health after disaster struck in the form of meningitis.  

Young Fred – barking bonkers lab is left bereft at home. 

But I can’t help comparing to humans. End of life care. When it’s time to let go. Let’s just go 

But please remember not to cremate me All these implants will blow the place to smithereens …on second thoughts quite like that idea Out with a bang !