My father would have celebrated his 80th birthday January 23. I think of him every day, but especially on that day because it reminds me of what a childlike love he had for birthdays. Whereas most people want to forget birthdays as they age, my father wanted all the bells and whistles — singing at […]
When Jazzy was diagnosed with a malignant fibrosarcoma tumor at age four, Dr. Alain Theon, chief of oncology at UC Davis, told me that she had three to six months to live. I was in a state of shock. Just two weeks before, I had noticed a tiny bump on the left side of her […]
gen·o·cide \ˈje-nə-ˌsīd\ Noun: The deliberate killing of a large group, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. On July 11, 2012, a black dog named Lennox was put to death in Belfast, Ireland. The seven-year-old mixed breed was confined in a municipal pound for two years while his owners brought legal action in […]
A recent visit to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital brought some bad news: The cancer has spread to Jazzy’s lungs and lymph nodes. Though she’s still the same happy, eccentric pit bull she ever was (chasing squirrels in the garden, sniffing and peeing on every bush around Stow Lake, going crazy whenever Jim Cramer is on TV)
Arms opened wide and as you leave the other side of life No turning back the door will never crack again All that we’ve gone through How could I have known, I’d lose you It’s all about you leaving and you left in a sea of love You’re riding high in style you’re watching all […]
With every breath I take The more you slip away Learning how to let it fade is so hard Distant as a star, out there in the dark A million miles from where you are is too far I already miss you I can’t feel any other way And I wish you could whisper to […]
Suddenly the sky grew dark. As rain started pouring down, I closed my eyes, raised my face, and let it wash away my tears.