Cranky ...
Posted by Judy Hill at 9/7/2007 1:08 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
I've been that for awhile.
Retirement is disorienting. What the hell do I do with all this time I have now? How do I force myself to do things that need to be done? How do I find some direction?
The worst thing is my dog, Baxter,
is sick.
He's at least 14 and has arthritis of the spine. All the pain medications he's been on just tear his stomach up and he's been in and out of the doggy hospital four or five times in the past couple of months.
I had to rush him there again today. This time it wasn't just his usual diarrhea - sorry to gross you out - but blood, too.
I didn't want to leave him. He didn't want me to leave. He stood by my side as the vet tech tried to cajole him into going into the back. Finally, he went with her.
I cried when I left. This isn't good.
He's been a great friend. Always there for me. Never questions anything. Just wags his tail when he sees me and can't wait to jump in bed at naptime and at night so we can cuddle.
He has me trained. I know when he licks his lips he's hungry or wants a treat.
I've cooked for him for years. Rice, mixed vegetables, ground turkey.
Both my sons whine.
"You don't cook for us anymore, but you cook for the dog!"
That's right.
He's my guy.
What am I going to do without him?
Even if he comes home this time and we limp along for awhile, I know it's going to happen sooner or later.
But even later will be far too soon.
Retirement is disorienting. What the hell do I do with all this time I have now? How do I force myself to do things that need to be done? How do I find some direction?
The worst thing is my dog, Baxter,
is sick.He's at least 14 and has arthritis of the spine. All the pain medications he's been on just tear his stomach up and he's been in and out of the doggy hospital four or five times in the past couple of months.
I had to rush him there again today. This time it wasn't just his usual diarrhea - sorry to gross you out - but blood, too.
I didn't want to leave him. He didn't want me to leave. He stood by my side as the vet tech tried to cajole him into going into the back. Finally, he went with her.
I cried when I left. This isn't good.
He's been a great friend. Always there for me. Never questions anything. Just wags his tail when he sees me and can't wait to jump in bed at naptime and at night so we can cuddle.
He has me trained. I know when he licks his lips he's hungry or wants a treat.
I've cooked for him for years. Rice, mixed vegetables, ground turkey.
Both my sons whine.
"You don't cook for us anymore, but you cook for the dog!"
That's right.
He's my guy.
What am I going to do without him?
Even if he comes home this time and we limp along for awhile, I know it's going to happen sooner or later.
But even later will be far too soon.
I cried for Baxter too. It's just not fair that dogs are so short lived. It really really sucks. You haven't posted for a week or so... I hope the worst hasn't happened but if so, you know Baxter had the best life possible. Heck, I don't cook for my dogs! (maybe I should...).
On a positive, I'm glad to find your blog. I dropped my subscription to the Trib (and all my movie channels) when I prepared for my own early "retirement" so I missed your last column - which is not online (I wonder why?!?!?). Amazing how a job you love for 20+ years can turn to something you hate. I hope this didn't happen to you but it doesn't sound like life was pleasant at the Trib. I worked there in the 80's and loved it - makes ya miss Red Pittman, doesn't it?
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