Cancer That Insidious Disease is Affecting My Online Business
I didn’t do my normal post this morning because I have been stuck as to what to say. My mind keeps coming back to a place of anger. Rather than pushing it aside I decided to get it off my chest and write about it. You see, a dear friend of 30 years just passed away this last weekend of cancer. She was diagnosed 2 years ago with bladder cancer and since then it has not been a pleasant road for her.
We have worked together off and on over the years, we’ve vacationed together, gone to weddings, hiked, shopped, and even were there for each other when each of our spouses passed away. My husband was only 39 (10 years ago of leukemia) and her husband a few years older (12 years ago of Lou Gehrig’s). We have a lot of history together and sometimes we’d talk not believing we had known each other that long…. were we really getting that old?
I am sad that she had to leave us so soon. She had many lemons handed to her over the years, but she would quietly make lemonade from them. She never complained, never had an ill word about anyone, never held a grudge…..
Why am I angry you wonder? What I’m about to say may offend some of you, so I will say my apologies in advance…. but,
Why do we treat our animals more humanely than we do people? This is not the first time I’ve seen someone terminally ill with absolutely no hope of survival have to lose their dignity and suffer besides. My friend was bedridden for the last few months with absolutely no quality of life. For the last couple of weeks she was barely cognizant we were there, yet legally no-one could "assist her through the transition". When horses break a leg we don’t let them suffer. When cats and dogs are terminal with no quality, we are allowed to "put them to sleep". Have our lawmakers truly not experienced watching a loved one die or more accurately waste away? Why couldn’t a little "cocktail" be administered so she could peacefully drift off to sleep? I can only hope no-one has to endure that when it’s my time….
There…. I had to get that off my chest because it’s been affecting my focus and my business. I’m sure there will be some of you who would like to comment one way or another…. 
There was an article in AARP magazine last month about life lessons. It was a discussion between two friends, one coming to the end of her life. Here’s what she told the other…"Look, darling," she said, tapping her watch. "From age 50 to 80 it’s not minutes - it’s seconds. Pay attention." I must not have looked as if I was paying enough attention, because she put her hand on my wrist and squeezed. "It’s seconds. You think you know, but you don’t." I’m beginning to know…..
Until next time, J.
"Take control of your destiny or someone else will"
Tags: 10 years, anger, apologies in advance, bladder cancer, business, businesses, cats and dogs, cocktail, couples, dear friend, destiny, dignity, grudge, horses, lawmakers, lemonade, lemons, leukemia, longing, lou gehrig, love, quality of life, sleep, survival, transition, weddings, why
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September 03 2008 05:05 pm | Wealth Strategies
September 8th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Over this past weekend, this same subject came up only this time in terms of my sweet cat, Sammy. In reverse, people are so willing to quickly “put down” an animal. Now the vet didn’t say, “Do it!” but the implication being that I might have to decide. Lucky for us, that was not the case (it was just a major infection and he’s really on the mend!).
However, having watched my mother go through the horrible disease stages of ALS, everything you write really strikes a nerve!
Why “so easy” for some living beings and so difficult for others. At least a human has the reasoning ability to make the choice. Animals exist at our whim and mercy.
Frankly, either way playing god isn’t something I signed up for
September 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Also, all wrapped up in a lot of emotional rememberances there. I am so very sorry you’ve lost a dear friend. We often say, “I understand” and then follow that statement up with lots of platitudes. The one thing I’ve learned is that while I may believe I “know how you feel” the truth is I can only guess. I know how I would feel. And I am truly sorry for your loss!
September 8th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Diane,
I am glad to hear your cat is on the mend. Thanks for your insight and comments…. appreciate your taking the time.