Armando is my hero; i feel more rested just thinking about that post.
Its always tough to lose someone important to you. it may seem a silly thing to say to some but i will pray for her. I’m sorry for your loss.
No you are not a murderer but a compassionate and loving person. It is very unselfish thing to allow a friend to go. My first two dogs Sully and Jordy died from cancer. The cancer was so extensive by the time we let them go we knew that it was only a matter of time. The last dog that we did have to make the decision for was 15 and had a degenerative spinal condition. Lady had healthy lungs and heart. We saved her from heart worm, thyroid problems and had a knee repaired but we could no longer keep her from pain. She could not lift her tail or walk correctly even with a pain killer. I was very conflicted until I looked at a picture I took of her. The spark was not there and I knew I had to let her go. I was keeping her alive more for me than her happiness. The pain of a loss of a friend is hard but please do not feel any guilt.
Work has taken me to downtown area today, and I’m driving from one frustrating errand to another, feeling worse about myself at every stop. Finally, at a traffic stop, I’ve cut off by this woman who glared at me and flipped me off before proceeding, leaving me stuck behind a double parked truck until every last one of the fifty million cars in the other lane has passed.
Worse yet, I saw the same woman a few blocks down the road, and I had a chance to pull up next to her bitch her out, but I didn’t do it. I know I did the right thing letting it go, but I don’t feel good about myself. In fact, I feel emasculated for not berating this person out until she felt so small about herself that she drove immediately home and shot herself.
I know life has far worse problems than who cut off whom at the stop light. I know that no one would think of me as more of a “man”, had I gotten of out the car and went up to yell at this person, even if I somehow “won” the argument.
But I cannot help feel small, angry, and frustrated. I feel like a small man for imagining walking up to her car with a tire iron and committing unthinkable violence at the next stop light. I feel angry that with all that is going wrong with the world, something as frivolous as being cut off in traffic will shake me so much. Mostly, I feel frustrated and sorry that I have to bring this up in this thread, because everyone else is discussing death of loved ones and other serious issues.
Beautiful summer is over here in Pacific Northwest, and 6 months of non-stop light drizzle has begun in earnest. Just wet enough to make everything sticky and piss me off right now, but not a downpour that could cool me down and wash away this day that I’d sooner forget. I cannot complain that “Life is teh suck” because I have it pretty good in every aspect, and I know a lot of other people have real life problems they are dealing with that are much more serious. But I feel shitty about myself today.
My brother is still in the hospital. Hasn’t seen the doctor all day so he probably won’t be coming home tonight.
I always wanted to ask what was worth my life when people drive crazy. You know could their house be on fire or a child be sick. Be proud you did not give in and stoop to the woman’s level. I have had people get so mad because I did not pass and get out of the way fast enough that they almost caused me to crash. One guy passed me and then slammed on his breaks as he turned around and shot me a bird. Oh this went on at 70 miles and hour. Maybe your bad mood is because of the rain. Write any time. This thread gets serious at times but sometimes it really just a place to vent.
I hope all is well with your brother even if he has to hang around till tomorrow.
Thanks. He’ll be ok, he’s just kinda peeved that he hasn’t seen his doctor all day. I talked with him a few minutes ago and at least he has been upgraded to a “soft” diet.
Sorry to hear that, Steve. I hope he gets out very soon.
But I cannot help feel small, angry, and frustrated. I feel like a small man for imagining walking up to her car with a tire iron and committing unthinkable violence at the next stop light. I feel angry that with all that is going wrong with the world, something as frivolous as being cut off in traffic will shake me so much. Mostly, I feel frustrated and sorry that I have to bring this up in this thread, because everyone else is discussing death of loved ones and other serious issues.
Beautiful summer is over here in Pacific Northwest, and 6 months of non-stop light drizzle has begun in earnest. Just wet enough to make everything sticky and piss me off right now, but not a downpour that could cool me down and wash away this day that I’d sooner forget. I cannot complain that “Life is teh suck” because I have it pretty good in every aspect, and I know a lot of other people have real life problems they are dealing with that are much more serious. But I feel shitty about myself today.
Don’t feel shitty about yourself. As Leah said, you didn’t stoop to her level. You should be proud.
And you live in the Pacific Northwest. Even through the drizzle, it’s a gorgeous part of the country. I was lucky enough to live in Portland for a year in 2002-03 and still miss it deeply. If it makes you feel better, I’m very jealous of where you live.
As for me, Elena’s been awoken from a deep sleep now twice as soon as my wife puts her down in bed. I sense another night on the futon coming on. My left eye is twitching, probably from lack of proper rest. Mostly, I’m starting to miss being in the same bed as my wife. And now, I don’t want to go to work tomorrow (but at least my last class is done at 11:30, so it’s a short, easy day).
Sometimes being peeved is a good sign. It takes energy so if your brother is like mine he getting better. 
Giving everyone pep talks has made me feel better after a very hard day. So good night all and sleep well.
If the doctors are taking their time, that’s a good thing. It’s when they start swarming around that you have to worry.
True. Unfortunately, he has a couple of things he would rather be doing than sitting around and not seeing a doctor at all all day. 
ETA: Well, just got off the phone with my brother. The doctor breezed through about 3 minutes ago. Should be out before lunch tomorrow if he can keep his food down. 
I’m sorry for your loss. Give the two other dogs extra hugs. You deserve it.
I think I can relate about the feeling like a murderer. Before our hamster passed away, I took her to the vet to see what could be done. I knew there was the option to put her down but I just couldn’t. I know it’s apples and oranges when comparing dogs and hamsters but she was a part of the family and it hurt me.
It’s never an easy decision. Thinking of you.
Glad to hear that your brother is doing okay. I saw your post after I went on a long rant about my road rage, and I felt pretty crappy that I complained at length about such a silly thing, while you have family member hospitalized. So, I’m extra happy that he’s doing well.
I’ve never had dogs, so I can’t imagine having to make such a choice… I don’t envy you. I guess all I could say is, while it may help ease our conscience for the certainty to go up by 1% everyday until we are 100% sure that it’s the right thing to do, every one of those days he maybe in pain. Waiting until we’re sure maybe better for us, but it may not be the best choice for the dog.
God bless.
Thanks, guys. I AM very thankful that I have GWC and this forum in which to vent. Maybe it’s because most people at GWC have been overwhelmingly friendly and sincere, or maybe because of the comfort and anonymity of a stranger’s company (I don’t REALLY know you guys personally after all, though it kinda feels like I do)… but whatever the reason may be, when I was really angry, my first thought was “oh, I’m so gonna post about this in life is teh suck thread.”
My sister just had her first kid, and I’m over at their place many times a week to play with the 4 months old boy, and bring take-out food for my sister and brother-in-law. Mostly because she cannot leave home to get it herself. Or to go shopping. Or sleep. Every three hours the baby wakes up, and one of them has to take care of him. He also eats and poops like 50,000 times a day.
Half the time, he makes me want to get married, start a family, and have my own little dude who has that smile to melt anyone’s heart. The other half the time, I dread having to trade in all of my free time, interests, friends, social life and everything else to stand guard around the clock over the little poop machine.
So, you parents of infants out there, my heart goes out to you. I’m sure it doesn’t get any easier when they grow into mischievous adolescents or rebellious teens.
Three cheers for the parents of GWC.
It is far from apples and oranges to compare dogs and hamsters. If it’s a family pet and you love it, then it’s the same thing. You take responsibility for their care and their lives and without being able to talk to them, you have to get inside their heads and try to determine if they are suffering “enough” to make the decision for them. So, don’t diminish what you went through with your hamster. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the same. (Heck, we lost a hermit crab a few weeks ago and I got choked-up.)
Thank you for your kind words. It’s a bit better today. The worst part is not only processing my own grief but dealing with that of my 8 yr old son, who is angry with me, as I told RMHPH, for not giving him the chance to say goodbye, “for killing her when she wanted to live,” and for not allowing him to come along when I did it. He’s mixed-up emotionally and it is extra-painful for me to watch him go through this.
I’m glad I was with her at the end, but at the same time, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to witness. I had her in my arms and the sudden change when she went limp was shocking and painful to me. That will stick with me for a long, long time. On the other hand, my best friend, who is a vet tech, went with me and after I was done holding her and saying goodbye, the vet had a table with a quilt for me to put her on. We put her there and I arranged her like she was sleeping on her dog bed and my best friend pulled the quilt over her like a blanket. It was a small gesture, but it’s one that means so much to me now that I really think about it. It was caring and I’m glad it’s one of the last things I’ll remember about Emma–her laying there with that quilt wrapped around her, looking like she was just peacefully sleeping.
Thanks for letting me get this out here, guys. It is so hard, all these emotions that I’m feeling and I haven’t felt grief like this for a long time.
That is probably the most comforting thing anyone has said to me yet. You are very wise for someone with no pets. Thank you.
I am really saddened by all teh suckyness I read about in this thread. However it is also (or can be given a different perspective) the happiest thread.
My prayers are with all my friends going through pain now and all I can think of that could help is my take.
I am very sorry for your situation Keara and it can’t be easy to say goodbye to anyone you love. To have that love is why I believe we are all here and while it is hard I also believe we all move on to a better place. I would say it is best to remember how much joy they brought you and in turn the joy you brought to them. It isn’t wrong to love someone so much that you are willing to give up their presence to do what is best for them. No matter what anyone’s belief system they are still with you in your memory and you will forever be a changed person for having them in your life. This way they are always a part of you.
This is the same for any person or animal we care about. It makes me happy to hear the thing this thread because it helps to remind me what I hold important and not to take for granted what I have and the people I still have in my life. I think we fall into the habit of just assuming that the thing in our life will stay the same forever when the truth is all thing will change. Traffic can be bad, people can threaten us, people get sick or hurt, our car breaks down, our favorite TV show is delayed - again, the market will fall and there will be natural disasters. Through it all, it is not what happens but how we react to it that determines how teh suck it is or isn’t.
My thanks to all those who choose to share here. Whether it is to just vent or to share a life situation it is nice to share things with others and helps to keep things in perspective. Life is teh sweet.
The Life of Brian, 10 PM tonight. “Romans Go Home!”
Yeah, there’s plenty of time to be lonely and miserable when you’re older.
I rarely have them. There are really no good places here that I can fortify against the zombies. :rolleyes: