Playing in the meadows

19th July 2010, 10.20pm.

After a 9 week fight with chronic renal failure, the disease finally took its toll on my body and it was time to go. My mommy had called all my favourite people around – those who pampered me before, took care of me and played with me before, to say their goodbyes before I left. I know in my heart that my mommies did their best for me, and gave their all. They were there with me throughout my journey and ordeal, and I want them to know I am at a better place now. I am playing with all my other pet friends in the meadows, where the grass is green, I am strong and healed, there is plenty of my favourite foods, and there is a beautiful rainbow connecting to Heaven, where I will meet my mommies. When I see them I will run across the rainbow as fast as I can, and lick them like I used to, and they will hug me like before. Thank you mommy for a good 3 years – you saved me from the streets and I love you for giving me the best 3 years of my life! I will be watching over you, and mommy G, and mommy K, and mommy I!

Curve ball

What a ride it has been in the last few weeks. My mums took me to Sentosa early last month, and took me out to sea. Although I am not a big fan of swimming, it was a wonderful day out because I had a lot of yummy human food – fries, my lamb treats from Natural Balance, and a piece of the delicious burger pattie!

I met some new friends too. Some were big and hairy, others were small and hairy. Some kept swimming into the sea to play fetch… something I really don’t see a point in doing because their owners keep throwing it back out to sea! My mums know I’m too smart for that, so they don’t play fetch with me.

Very soon after that outing, I felt really tired. I stopped liking the food I used to love. My mums thought I was picky with my food, and tried new things – chicken wing, steamed chicken, roasted chicken, half boiled eggs, BBQ pork, and even my favourite treats. Not sure what was wrong, I instinctively slept most of the time to try to sleep things off.

After about two weeks, people around me got worried because I would take a few pieces of food every other day. So I was taken to the vet at Mount Pleasant. About a week of visits, the Doctor there finally did some really expensive tests to see if there was anything wrong with me, and boy was there something wrong with me! I had chronic  kidney disease! My kidneys were dying on me!

Since then, I have been in and out of hospitals. Now I have to be injected with fluids everyday at home. It hurts a little but it’s worth it. It helps my kidneys function properly. I’m slowly regaining some of my energy, but I still can’t seem to find my appetite. My family makes my life as comfortable as possible, and try very hard to make me food at home.

I still enjoy going for walks in the morning, even though I get tired easily. Life has little wonders that make you want to go on even though the going gets tough. Things like people smiling at you because you make them smile, people telling you they love you, the fresh air in the morning, the sunlight that keeps you warm, the touch of someone who cares for you, and my gawd all that food! I can’t wait till I’m able to have another full meal and I want to get there!

The weight has been coming off gradually, the days get shorter, and I don’t think I’ll be able to go for another hike in MacRitchie Reservoir, but I’ll take it as a time to cleanse my body and my soul, and to change my life for quality instead of quantity.

So when life throws you a curve ball, dodge it and move on the best you can. For me, that means getting a massage everyday and learning to eat really bland food even though I long for a chicken wing!

Dogs feel the heat too

Is it me or is the weather getting hotter these days? I’m 70 this year, and I remember how when I was 10, the weather used to be cooler, and I was never so thirsty just sitting in the park! It must be what they call ‘global warming’. We have to work together to stop polluting the earth, reduce our carbon footprint, recycle and save energy, or no one (and no dogs for that matter!) will be able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors anymore!

Hachiko

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”  ~ Josh Billings

Hachiko is my hero.  A pure-bred Akita, Hachiko showed a life-long loyalty and unconditional love for his owner. For two years, Hachiko would see his owner off at the front door and awaited his return after work at the Shibuya Station. After his master’s death, Hachiko would routinely wait for his return at the station for the next nine years, appearing in the evenings when the train was due at the station. Hachiko’s body is now preserved in the National Science Museum of Ueno in Japan.

Awwww…!!

How to act like a cute baby and get away with sleeping on someone else’s bed.

Hi y’all!

Make new friends once in a while, especially those with good intentions.

Pick a comfortable bed…

Take a nap.  Feel better after.

The World As I See It

If everyone learned to take a breather a day, and looked around them to see the simple pleasures in life, or really count their blessings, they’d be much happier people, and the world would be a better place.