|
This
past week was a tough one for all of us. The wife of one of our
oldest friends died of cancer after a relatively short period of
time after being diagnosed. She was a smoker, but had stopped
twenty years ago, so think about it. Anyway, my wife had to go
over and help with the final arrangements and then we went over
for two days of funeralizing. I have my own thoughts about what
you can do with me when it comes to be my time. I want to make
some arrangements for the donor program to use and keep whatever
parts of me they want for whatever reason. If they need my eyes,
skin or anything that’s still viable then let it be put to use
somewhere, because I’m certainly not going to need it. I mentioned
this to someone this past week and they stared at me with a
shocked look and told me that I might need everything when I go to
heaven.
Well first of all, I don’t think we
carry these old bodies or any Earthly body with us when we get to
heaven, those of us that are going. Second, I don’t think God is
going to be hacked at me if I donated my eyes to some child so
they can see what this world is all about, or if my skin can be
used for some burn victim. If God is going to get mad at me for
that, I’d be really surprised. Nope, they can use all they can get
from me, then create me and toss those ashes on the roses for all
I care. After looking at the cost of a casket and funeral plot, I
think the money would be better spent sending some kid to college
rather than entombing me intact for eternity. I won’t be there, so
how do I know and what do I care? Have a memorial service and a
good reception with plenty of food and laugh about the good parts
and cry about the bad if you want to, but don’t look for me a
place under some large old tree to be at rest forever because it’s
not what I want.
Enough of this. The interesting part
of this story is that the husband of the deceased wife came to
spend the weekend with us. We sat around and talked and just
relaxed all weekend, which was what he needed. You’ve heard me
talk about my wonderful pound pooch named Buddy. His picture is on
my web site. Anyway, Buddy just took up with our friend and stayed
by his side from the time he got here until the time he left. He
would not leave him alone. It was if he knew our friend was
grieving and was trying to be of some comfort. Now we start
talking about this and my friend tells me the most wonderful
story. He and his wife had two cats. They both (the cats, not our
friends) started losing all of their fur several months ago. Came
out in huge clumps all over their bodies. They took them to the
vet and he asked if they were going through some traumatic period
in their life. They told him that she had just been diagnosed with
lung cancer and was to start the treatments in a week or so.
The vet said he had been practicing
for over thirty-five years and had seen this time and again.
Somehow the animals knew what was taking place before and during
these trying times. He even said they were starting to use some
animals to try and predict certain illnesses and diseases. He said
everyone knew about this phenomenon, but no one had an explanation
for it. Isn’t this amazing? I started thinking about anyone being
sick or coming home from the hospital and how our animals react. I
know that in the past two years, my wife and I have had some
surgeries. Buddy would not leave our side while we were
recovering. He stays closest to the person that is hurting. How do
they know? Our friend said that only in the past couple of weeks
has the hair on his cats started to grow back. It’s as if they
know the outcome before we do and are dealing with it ahead of
time. The term ‘poor dumb animal’ does not fit this type of
behavior, does it? I’d be interested in knowing if other folks
have had this kind of experience with their family pets.
|
