A Farewell to Pets
“Mom, I want that one!” I most likely exclaimed as we chose our fourth dog.
“But what about her sister? She’s so much prettier,” my mom retorted.
“No, I want that one!”
Actually, that makes me sound much too nice. I was a brat as a child. I was probably on the verge of throwing a tantrum when my mom started hinting that she wanted “the sister.”
Well, my siblings and I got our way. Princess was her name, and she was a great dog. Princess lasted longer in our family than any other dog to date: 12 years. We chose her because of her energy, and perhaps it was this energy that gave her such a long life in my family. Even in the months before her death, new friends of mine would meet her and exclaim, “Oh look at the puppy!”
I was at college when she died. It didn’t really bother me though. The way I see it, she had lived her years and now that I was gone there was no one to keep her company. I suppose the only real regret I have is not having spent more time with such a wonderful dog.
That was a few months ago. Now I’ve been attempting to get a new dog.
“I want a dog.”
“Nate, don’t get a dog, get a girlfriend; they’re lower maintenance and easier to get rid of,” my grandfather responded.
“Yeah Nate, don’t get a dog, get a girlfriend,” my mother chimed in. Next to me, she’s probably the person that’s waited the longest for me to establish a significant other.
Fast forward to a new scene: Me attempting to sway my mom to my side by being honest about the reasons I want a dog.
“Mom, I’m going to be honest with you: I’m really lonely, and I feel like I have next to nothing to look forward to in my life.”
“Ahhhh, I’m sorry honey.”
For the next few minutes she was more understanding about my situation, but in the end, her anti-dog sentiment held firm and her reasons against pet ownership did not change.
This past weekend I had a four day weekend, so I took the local stray cat which I’ve semi-adopted home with me. It got out of the screened in porch I put it in, freaked out, and ran away. I saw it once that weekend, so I know it’s okay, but it won’t let me get within 100 feet of it.
And thus is my farewell to pets. My landlord won’t allow indoor pets, so even if my family’s disapproval wasn’t enough, I still wouldn’t be allowed to own a pet. I suppose I had the stray cat, but even when it was around it wasn’t much of a pet. Calling for it I only had about a 50/50 chance of it actually coming; even then, the chances of it showing any affection towards me were slim to none. I think it’s in a better place now anyways, if it chooses to remain there. My mom said she was going to feed it, or rather put out food for whatever animal chose to eat it first. But even if it doesn’t get my mother’s food, it’s in Orlando suburbia now, not downtown Gainesville. It’ll be able to feed off of all the other food left out for other neighborhood cats and dogs. And if our family doesn’t see it again, I’m sure some other family will take it under their wing.
As for the dog, will it be a dog or girlfriend? Well, I think the latter may be ruled out, at least in any serious aspect. So the former: I considered moving to a new location, one that would allow pets, but ultimately in the end my parent’s arguments have won. They say a pet’s a big responsibility and it is. Though I would cherish the relationship, I’m not convinced that I have time for a dog. A dog costs a lot, and right now I have the money because I have a good job. But having a job also takes a lot of time, so I could quit the job and then have the time and no money, or keep the job and have money but no time. Either way it looks like I will not be having a dog in the near future.
Farewell to pets.
(Well, almost a post every other day, but at least I’m keeping on top of it).
I Want Your Blood
Hello sir, we’d like your blood.
B Positive, that’s what my father’s key chain said. I thought it was clever of the blood bank the first time I saw it, pass out token key chains to loyal patrons; “B Positive,” kind of like the blood, though with a message. Telling the perhaps not so happy individual less his blood to be optimistic, have a positive outlook. Clever.
And then came the day when I received my key chain, I felt so honored, as they carried it to me I felt like I was being knighted for some brave service I had performed. Then I opened it to unveil my newfound treasure, my B Negative key chain?
What’s the deal with that? I mean, I know I can be pessimistic, but telling me to be pessimistic? Where’s my cleverly coined B Positive?
Turns out it is in my blood. My father has B Positive blood, so he receives the B Positive key chain, and I have the B Negative blood, thus receiving the B Negative key chain, not as catchy, is it?
Then today, the voice on the other end of the line asked me for my blood, “We really need your blood this time of year, there’s always a shortage around the holiday season.” Kind of spooky isn’t it? Someone on the other end of the phone: “I want your blood [sinister laugh].” Isn’t that grounds for calling the police? But though my key chain does say B Negative, not nearly as impressive as my father’s, I still feel honored each time I donate, maybe I’m helping someone else out, giving someone else a chance to live, a father another chance to see his son, or the family patriarch one last Christmas with loved ones. Maybe, just maybe, I actually am making a difference.
Oh, and I’ll be posting every other day now. Please feel free to hold me accountable in the form of e-mails , it’s finally time I “RejuviNate” (the updated page has only been up for what… two or three months now? Call it a slow rebirth. In fact, some things on my page, like my calendar, still need to be fixed, any help? =).
