A Hospice nurse came by this morning for preliminary meet & greet/answer questions, get us in their system so when we really need them, we're ready to go. She was incredibly nice and patient with all our questions. Of course, John made us laugh several times during the dreaded conversation. He is amazing. That is the peace that comes from putting your trust solely in God.
This morning, John reminded me again for the millionth time to remember the most important thing is to know what God has done through Jesus; given us redemption, salvation from eternal damnation/separation from God. Only by accepting Jesus's death and resurrection can we be saved from hell and made with God. Christ alone. God's word alone.
About 3 weeks ago we had to put our cat, Smokey, to sleep. He was at least 14 years old, and the best cat ever. He never meowed until I actually got out of bed in the mornings, and many mornings I'd wake up with his nose an inch from my face, willing me to wake up. I could tell when storms were over because he'd come out from under the bed. Smokey and Spike the chiuaua were great pals. His 'happy place' was in a kitchen cabinet. It was 'his' from the day we moved into this house. When he'd get his shots at the vet, he'd get out of his carrier and head for the cabinet. If it was shut, he'd paw it open, climb in, and come out occasionally to fuss at me, then go back in for a while. He hid his favorite toy mouse in the very back corner. On cold days, he'd hide under the bed covers curled in a ball. If you touched him, he'd grunt at you.
Smokey has a large mass in his abdomen that grew quickly in a 3 week period. He could have gone through surgery and chemo, but I said one man on chemo in this house is enough. He wasn't eating and had lost 4 pounds; wasn't hopping on the couch with us or even onto his condo to look out the window.
And then there's the time HE hit a car. Smokey's right eye had been put out in a fight years ago, so he never saw the car coming from the right until he hit its front hubcap. I saw it happen, shut my eyes, and when I opened them again, he was gone--for good I thought. I called John all in a panic. He searched the neighborhood for an hour and couldn't find the cat. Three days later, while I was on the phone with John, up ran Smokey from under the shed behind the house; his favorite place to hide out.
We won't even talk about him tearing his ACL and having surgery to fix it............
We miss Smokey a lot.
John's accountant told us about donating bodies to FSU College of Medicine. I've researched the process, and it's only a little more cost than regular cremation, which John wants in order to keep costs down. I'd feel better about cremation knowing the use of his body could help someone else down the road.
All donated bodies go to the Anatomical Board in G'ville. If you don't specify a particular location for research, it goes to the next open spot. We'll specify FSU. The disclaimer says it takes 2 years after donation before you get your loved one's remains. Two years is a long time. But if it helps in the research to find a cure for brain tumors, it would be worth it.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and the word doesn't even begin to be adaquate. [Does that statement even make sense????] But you know what I mean!
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