As autumn draws to an end and winter approaches, Thanksgiving seems to be a time when for some of us, our lives draw to a close. 

In late 1998, my grand-father Scotty passed away from a sudden illness. He was in to see his doctor on the Friday before Thanksgiving, given a clean bill of health and sent on his way. Saturday night he went to bingo with my grandma and had a night of enjoyment, eating pizza and enjoying life the way he usually did… in the late 1970s he had a lung transplant or surgery of somekind which was one of the first to happen in Canada. They gave him five years to live but he took 20 instead. Scottish to the end, his frugality and stubbornness gave me a wonderful grandfather who stepped in when my mom’s dad couldn’t cut it. Not grandfather by blood, it didn’t matter. He loved me dearly and I know it. Saturday late in the night and early Sunday morning, he lungs filled up with fluid as he slept and by the time my grandmother realised what was happening and got him in to the hospital, it was too late. My dear Scotty died. It’s been ten years now — how fast and yet slow they pass, all at once. I never forget you… not for a moment! And Scotty in his passing brought my mom’s family together as a whole, one last time. We have a beautiful portrait of all of us, including my mom’s brother who passed away a few years later. Funerals are a time of mourning but a time of celebration as well — a time to celebrate those who had passed, and those still with us. 

Last year, I had to say good-bye to a close friend of mine… to my dear cat, Pugsy. He was often sick but managed to last a good 15 years. In May 2007, I had to go north until Thanksgiving to both work and go to school. Before I left, he got sick and I ended up spending my $800 tax return on him to get him well enough. I was so torn but I knew I had to go and couldn’t stay home for him… so I turned to prayer and asked God, “Please, just let him be well until I get home.” I was supposed to be home at the end of July but circumstances had me stay there a while more. I came home on weekends and such but finally was “home for good” on the Friday of the Thanksgiving weekend. He looked unwell but by midnight that Friday, I knew it was time. “Time” was when I knew in my heart, it was time to say good-bye. Tuesday morning couldn’t roll around fast enough, he was in pain and cried and I cried, knowing what I had to do and how much I would miss him.

Pugsy Video

There are two photos in there, of us on the day we took him in. I wondered if I would cry watching the movie tonight, one year later…. and I didn’t. Instead, I smiled and laughed and realised how lazy my cat was, how much he enjoyed sleeping and that I really did give him the best 15 years a cat could ever have. God answered my prayer by having him well enough for me to come home and to spend one last weekend with him… and for me to be there when it was time to let him go.

I was a good grand-daughter. I was a good mother to my cat. I had an awesome grandfather. I had a loyal friend. God answered my prayer. They lived their lives to the fullest (and the laziest for Pugs!) …. and I was blessed to have them in mine. And for that, I am grateful.

Posted on October 13th, 2008 by admin
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