A Holiday Eulogy

I was standing in the pharmacy line at Wal-Mart yesterday when I ran into an old dog-training friend of mine. We were "talking dogs" and comparing notes on the shows we had been to and mutual friends. We got on the subject of the new dogs in our respective households when she said "I have one of Cyndee's dogs now. When they found her, she had two dogs left and I took one and (insert name here) took the other one."

Whoa! Back up just a sec. Cyndee (a very dear friend and training partner from years back)? Found her? What gives?

"She hadn't been feeling well for a few days and she thought it was the flu. She went home from work one night and didn't show up the next day (not like her at all). Her boss tried to get ahold of her, then her parents couldn't reach her (Cyndee was the ultimate techie, always connected to some moblie device). Finally the sheriff's department did a wellness check and found her dead in her bed. She went to bed that night and never woke up."

OMG!!

My friend continued, "Because her death was unattended, of course they performed an autopsy. It turns out that she had ovarian cancer that had spread all over her body. I think they determined cause of death was thrombosis." Nobody can say whether Cyndee knew of her condition and if she did whether she chose not to seek treatment. She was always more concerned about the health of her animals than she was about her own. I prefer to think that she never knew and that her death was quick and that she was totally unaware.

My point is this; it's the holiday season. They say it is better to give than to receive. Why don't you do both, give yourself a gift and receive one at the same time? Schedule a checkup and screening now. Guys, that goes for you too. Please don't let anyone on this forum be the person who doesn't show up to work one day. Get yourself checked out and make sure that your health is as good as it can be.

And to my friend Cyndee, thanks for all your knowledge and coaching. I know you're waiting by the big obedience ring in the sky. We'll see ya there!

Holiday blessings to one and all. May your holidays be happy and healthy.