Reflections on Life and Loss
Before you get too worried by the title, Jovi is okay. She is resting comfortably at home after her big adventure to the animal hospital on Monday afternoon. If you have been following me, you know that I have been stressing about that trip for a while now.
We actually learned a lot of things, some of them good, some of them bad, but as I said, what matters most is the fact that she is safe and sound at home. I took a video of her while we were waiting in the car, I wish Hive had an easier way than writing a post in 3Speak or uploading the video to YouTube to share short videos, but oh well.
She was panting non stop the entire drive down and when we got there she was shaking non stop like she was shivering. It was funny to watch, but also a painful reminder of just how much of a toll trips like this take on her.
This was the position she stayed in pretty much the whole evening once we got home. They had to shave her belly to do the ultrasound and it's honestly just about the cutest thing. The ultrasound showed that the infection isn't as bad as they had feared, so they are going to try a different antibiotic.
However, it also showed that she has a tumor on one of her adrenal glands. We weren't really surprised by that. Given her age, we expected she probably had some kind of tumor somewhere in her body.
Also, given her age, they weren't even thinking about recommending surgery to have the tumor removed.
The thing that was probably the biggest punch in the gut for me was the fact that the life expectancy of labs is only 12 years. The fact that she is 14 is quite bittersweet for me. It makes me happy that we have had her two more years than the average, but it's also a stark reminder that she is living on borrowed time now.
As we paid the bill and loaded her in the car for the hour drive home, I couldn't help but wish we were in Vietnam where @gooddream says veterinary care is very affordable. Most likely nowhere close to the $1100 USD we dropped on the consultation, ultrasound, urinalysis, bloodwork, and antibiotics. If I'm being honest though, it was more than worth it. We would have paid three time that if that's what it took to get some answers.
My mom was text messaging me yesterday and in the midst of that exchange she asked me if I had heard that an old high school friend of mine had died. I knew the friend had been fighting leukemia for the past five years or so, but it still came as a shock. The last time I saw her post on Facebook she was updating everyone that she was starting a new treatment.
Then there was a post about her having a fever, and I didn't really think too much about it. It turns out, it was a lot more serious than I realized.
To be fair, I haven't been in touch with this person in quite some time. While we were once quite close, life took us in different directions and we kind of went our separate ways. We were never a couple, but I'd like to think at least for a time we shared a friendship that was a little deeper.
We used to write letters to each other (actual physical letters) and continued to do that when she went off to college as well as talk on the phone occasionally. I had the chance to work with her several years later at the same school district where we first met, but we never really connected in the same way. She was dating the man who would become her husband and I was in a serious relationship. Plus, people grow into different people than they were in high school.
I remember for the longest time I never missed her birthday, I would always send a card or a note, and I remember being the only one to show up to her piano recital. The piano recital was something she mentioned off hand, but I knew it was important and I made a point of showing up.
I also remember she was one of only two staff members to speak out publicly at the board meeting where they voted to cut my position (when we worked together). She was just an awesome person like that.
It's interesting because I feel guilty that I should be sadder. I try to rationalize it by saying that we really haven't talked to each other in years, but then that makes me feel even more guilty. I only got to meet her husband once, it was at their wedding, but my heart breaks for him because I can only imagine his loss. She was a pretty amazing woman and her twin girls were lucky to have her for the time they did.
I wish we had stayed in touch more and she had gotten the chance to meet @mrsbozz. I think they would have gotten along well.
Life keeps moving though, and although I didn't want to, I got up out of bed this morning and did a workout on my treadmill. It's not much, but it literally kicked my butt. I'm still a bit winded two hours later sitting in my office. I've found that right now 2.8 MPH is a good solid pace for me to walk at.
I did a short 2 minute stretch of running at 5 MPH around the 8 minute mark of my workout. It was a bit too much. I'm having a hard time finding a good pace for running/jogging that isn't too extreme, but also isn't so slow that it feels unnatural to keep that pace.
I tell you what, kicking the incline up to 3 made a huge difference compared to leaving the incline at 0 the last time I used the treadmill. It will take time, but I am really looking forward to settling into a solid routine.
I'll be out there running with @steevc before you know it! Don't hold your breath though.
Sports Talk Social - @bozz.sports
One of the great things about being older (please do not call me elderly) ? I'm pretty much done with that running shit. :) I got a new pedometer app this week and it has me averaged out at 2.8 mph when I'm out with Sam. I'm sure it's faster on the pavement and slower on the sand but I'm pretty happy with that...
Speaking of, I'm sad/happy for you with Jovi. I know it's hard as anything, but it's part of the deal when you have a doggy in your life. My neighbor across the street just went through it with his 'Buddy'. It was sad and beautiful to see. I got the chance to tell Buddy that he did his doggy duty as well as any one I'd known. Didn't make a bit of difference to him, did to me.
Lost friends come more and more often. When I was a freshman in HS our baseball team started 5 freshmen. We were uniformly bad and uncompetitive but by the time we graduated we were state champs. All but one of those guys has left the building... and he's fighting cancer.
I have been incredibly lucky to make and hold contact with 3 'girls' from my class. We email multi times per week and I've seen each in the last 3 years. It's one of my most joyful things..
I've still got a bit of time to get this running thing figured out. 2.8 MPH seems to be my happy place right now. I'd like to get it up to 3.0, but I am sure it will come in time. Jo has dealt with anxiety most her life, but she has been great for us. I hope she feels the same. This is the first person I was close to that I have had to deal with this. I mean my Grandma and my wife's Grandma was hard. This girl was two grades below me, so the same age as my wife. It's sad. I only keep in touch with a few of my high school friends.
The panic of growing older,in this life one just to accept somethings the way they are just for the sake of peace of mind...... Accept everything that comes ur way and handle them accordingly
Yeah, that is some sage advice. It's hard when you are in the middle of it though!
!PGM
BUY AND STAKE THE PGM TO SEND A LOT OF TOKENS!
The tokens that the command sends are: 0.1 PGM-0.1 LVL-0.1 THGAMING-0.05 DEC-15 SBT-1 STARBITS-[0.00000001 BTC (SWAP.BTC) only if you have 2500 PGM in stake or more ]
5000 PGM IN STAKE = 2x rewards!
Discord
Support the curation account @ pgm-curator with a delegation 10 HP - 50 HP - 100 HP - 500 HP - 1000 HP
Get potential votes from @ pgm-curator by paying in PGM, here is a guide
I'm a bot, if you want a hand ask @ zottone444
Good luck catching up to @steevc ! I hope Jovi does better with the antibiotic, vet's are really expensive these days, along with dentists!
It's odd to find out news from someone you used to be close to even though life takes you in different directions. Her husband and twin daughters are going through a tough time. Sorry to hear that, I have a few friends like that and we haven't spoken in years.
Keep up with the treadmill, it's good for the heart!
Haha I know right! I'd probably have to break his leg to even have a chance at this point in my life! It's kind of like an out of body experience at this point. It almost doesn't feel real, but I think that is because we kind of lost touch. Thanks for the well wishes for Jovi. She is a trooper for sure.
Well glad the news wasn’t too bad. Yeah my golden started getting tumors around 13. He made it to 14 1/2, which is fantastic for a golden. But he went fast as hell when he went. I hope all the best for you.
That’s still sad…..
Running outside is so much more fun.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Yeah, I don't doubt that about running outside. It's about 35 degrees out and raining right now though, so no thanks! Plus it's about 4:30 in the morning when I work out!
Yeah wait till it’s nicer out.
Not trying to brag but if you paid even $60 for all of that here I would tell you that you were being ripped off. That's robbery buddy!
I had a 3 day procedure including boarding on Nadi that included all the above as well as surgery and it was just over $100
Wow, that is crazy! We pay about $100 just for one night of boarding here. They've kind of got us over a barrel here, but like I said, even if it was three times as much, we would probably still pay. Pet insurance is looking more attractive though!
When I take Nadi to the vet I go to the international one which is 3x as expensive as the Vietnamese local ones. If the situation is serious I am very stern about telling them I am not at all concerned about how much it costs... do the expensive version of whatever needs to be done. So yeah, I totally get where you are coming from. I would still pay if it was $1000 as well.
Atleast you now know more about Jovis overall condition, that makes things easier to work with.
Im so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, it sounds like she was taken way too young, that's just awful.
All the best.
She would have been about 45, but yes still way too young. We are hopeful that Jovi can have a comfortable life for the time that she has left with us. We are still waiting on the rest of the test results to come back.
Jovi does look cute, and good in a way that the infection is not like they feared.
That is a shame about your friend. Life though we all do go our separate ways. Her poor family though, that really is a shame.
Yeah, it's quite sad. I can't even imagine. It's going to be hard for the girls I am sure, but the husband said they always knew this might be a possibility, so hopefully that prepared them a little.
Thank you for sharing this personal story about Jovi and the emotional rollercoaster you experienced while taking her to the animal hospital. It is heartwarming to hear that she is resting comfortably at home now, and that the ultrasound showed the infection isn't as bad as they had feared. As you mentioned, the cost of veterinary care can be quite expensive, but it was definitely worth it to ensure Jovi's safety and well-being.
Yeah, we are breathing a little easier now. She is still struggling in some areas, but we know that is just a part of her getting old.
Life is so precious. I'm so sorry about your friend. Glad that you got answers about your pup.
Thanks, I appreciate that!
I don't think you should feel guilty for not being more sad. Being sad won't bring her back or comfort those she left behind. Better to think of the good times and all the good she accomplished in the world and be happy.
Glad to hear Jovi was ok.
That is a good point. Thanks for that. I was telling my wife some stories I remember last night about her and it was nice to remember her so fondly.