Packing, and waiting . . .

[sartorias]

So I'm leaving on Friday for a month. Time to haul out the suitcase, and to dig out stuff I haven't worn for more than half a year, like long sleeved things . . . or do I

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[whswhs]

We've been through that with two cats now, and the day when we'll face it with our current elder cat is no longer indefinably far away; he drinks and urinates more and more. There's a subtle line where you are no longer keeping the cat alive for the cat's sake, but for yours, and that's the time to let them go, if you can sense its crossing.

I don't think "wants to be with us" is the only measure. After Rakshi's kidneys had totally failed, so that she could no longer retain water, and she was incapable of eating because she couldn't salivate, and we let the vets hydrate her and saw her become dehydrated only hours after we brought her home, and we made that last appointment-that last night, she came into the bedroom, and managed to climb up onto the bed, and she was sleeping next to me when I woke. But I knew I had to take it as goodbye and not as "keep me here longer."

Still, all I can say is that I know you'll be conscientious in doing the best you can, and that if your decision isn't exactly perfect the error won't be one that grievously harms your dog.

[sartorias]

Thanks for the kind thoughts. I guess that's the crux of it, not only feeling the impending grief, but the sharp guilt about potentially ending a life when it is NOT clear we should.