Something About Sunsets

There is something about sunsets that always makes me melancholy.  Dylan Thomas whispers in my ears.

 "Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should rave and burn at the close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Yet, nighttime has its own magic, especially in winter.  Snowshoeing through the woods at night, with a bright moon on the snow, owls hooting, stars glistening, is so exhilarating that morbid feelings about night fade away.  Maybe I can develop a change of feeling about sunsets if I try to perceive them as about drawing in for a pause or respite from the day, for reflection and contemplation.

Just had to throw this in here.  I had the opportunity to grandmother-sit my granddaughter for the whole day on Saturday, and we had a blast.  There is nothing like baby cuddles, little hands in yours, and watching the marvels of discovery in a bright new mind and soul. 

Weelll...not so fast

The aforementioned, well loved, but declared nearly dead pet has made an astounding recovery.  After vets proclaimed he had hours to live, with a bleeding and ulcerated spleen, Lisbon rebounded.  He's up on his feet, eating well, even frisking around.  Just goes to show you... that's why I'm not ready to sign a living will just yet.

Another Goodbye

We're saying goodbye to another dog.  Lisbon, 13, seemed off yesterday: he had trouble walking, breathing and did not want to eat.  A trip to the vet, some x-rays and ultrasound revealed a malignant tumor in his spleen, and his spleen was leaking blood into his abdominal cavity.   Nothing to be done to save him, but he was (so they said) not in pain or great discomfort, so we brought him home.  They did not expect he would survive the night.  Today he is still here.  He is eating and drinking, and even took himself outside in the fresh 22inches of snow to relieve himself. 

Although we realized it can't be too long now, this dog has already beaten a prognosis of death by cancer.  Three years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer of the nasal cartilage.  Then he was given months to live.  Well the vets still can't figure out what happened because, they say, dogs do not survive cancer.  I guess it's catching up with him now.