sad sad day.....

Charlotte Claire and Camille didn't understand why they were saying goodbye to Champ. In fact, the sad thing is that Camille just learned to say "Champ" today....

He is/was such a pretty dog....Margaret says goodbye...

Charlotte Claire gives him some hugs.

oops.

Margaret gets a nice nudge.

And the picture of Camille, holding Kathryn's babydoll. The doll is dressed in a real blanket sleeper, and I keep thinking it is a real baby sitting there. My day: I woke up this morning to Camille singing Mom-Mom-Mom.....I got her changed and cuddled and Charlotte Claire woke up. She was covered in....um...how to say this nicely - she was sick to her stomach in the night, and her hair was.....nevermind, but she needed a lengthy shower....and her bed had to be cleaned up....then, breakfast (yuck!)...and getting ready to bring Champ in. Just Joseph and I went with him. Champ, of course, had no idea. We had to heave him into the van, but once he got in there, he was pretty thrilled....we haven't cleaned the van again since our trip, so there were plenty of crumbs for a dog to find. At the vet, he got very agitated. He always gets nervous there, it must be the smells of all the dogs, plus he probably remembers the shots. And, there was a beautiful grey tabby cat in a cage in the waiting room. Apparently the cat was run over, and the UPS man rescued him, brought him to the animal hospital, and they were looking for someone to adopt him....I was tempted, but one thought of Paul's reaction if I brought another cat home was enough to end that temptation. Anyway, Champ was nervous. We brought him in and half/lifted him up on the table. The Joseph petted his head while I hugged him/held him down. The vet had to shave a spot to put the needle in, the clippers scared the daylights out of him. Joseph pet him and talked to him while I held him down with all my might. As soon as the needle went in, he started to relax, and in just a minute he was at peace. I knew it would be sad, but I didn't realize HOW sad. The vet took out her stethoscope, and said he was gone, which was obvious. She then gave me a big hug. What a lady. What a rotten part of a wonderful job. They were so very kind, but all I wanted was to get out of there.....

So, of course I cannot take a trip to the city, even for that, without a stop at the store. I went to Aldi, and Joseph stayed in the van. Champ was his dog, he got him when he was almost 4, and he called him Simba at first, and carried him up and down the deck steps, and went swinging with him on his lap. So, into the store I went. I felt like everyone knew I was grieving for my dog. The cashier asked how I was doing today. Fine, I lied. I was NOT going to bawl in Aldi.

So, home with the groceries, and on with life.