We received a call today........"The Call"....the call you never want to receive when you live so far away from family and loved ones
It is one of the toughest days since we have been overseas and perhaps the most represents one of the most difficult aspects of living so far away from family..........the loss of a family member.
Murphy was our pet Maltese.........white and fluffy and extremely loving, he was truly a member of our family......and in many ways just as human as we are.
It was tough to leave him behind when our adventure began.........but our oldest son was just beginning college and while he would have loved to have kept Murphy, he was staying in a dorm and they didn't allow pets. We would have loved to have let my mom keep him, but even though he was getting older, he was still energetic enough two years ago that he would have been tough for my mom to deal with.........in addition to having a brother-in-law that is allergic to dogs........
Linda's mom came to the rescue and offered to take care of Murphy in our absence......it was great for Murphy too, because Linda's mom also has a Maltese......and Murphy and Oscar always got along very well.
In the past 2 years, I only had the chance to spend a few days with him last Christmas............Linda and the boys had more time with him..........at least twice per year for several days at a time.
The timing of these "events" in life are never perfect either..................over the next two days, both of our sons will celebrate their 17th and 21st birthdays.................and now this unfortunate incident happens just before their special days.
Life/death just isn't fair sometimes..............it just makes you want to ask...........why at this time????.........why couldn't we celebrate our son's Birthdays without a sadness in all our hearts...........
Isn't it ironic that over the next two days we will be celebrating the dates which brought us two special people into the world............while we are losing one that we all loved and cared so much for..........
Do you think there is a lesson in this? Does it take something like this for all of us to realize just how special LIFE is.......and how special celebrating a birthday is..........
Just the other day, I made the comment to some colleagues that "at my age, my Birthday is just like any other day to me"..........and I have heard others say similar things.......
I don't think I will repeat those words again...........Birthdays are meant to be celebrated........celebrate life and make your day or someone you know feel special on the day they were brought into the world.
I think I am going to go for a ride on the motorcycle and take my mind off of things for a little while.
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