Living Like Max

This isn't the way that I intended to start this blog and the content is not quite what I intended, but, everything  has a start.  There are plenty of opportunities to learn in life if you want to find the lessons.  This is about some of the lessons that I have learned over the past 12 years from Max, our crazy, happy, loving Brittany Spaniel.  Max left us during the night.  After months of slowly becoming uncomfortable with a collapsed larynx , Max's symptoms got much worse and we took him to the Vet at 2:30 AM this morning.  We said goodbyes and wept as the Doctor and attendant injected him and he peacefully left us, all much better for the years of loyalty and love that he gave us.  As I sat up the rest of the night, reliving my happiest memories, crying  with Andrea and Adele and struggling to get composed and have a normal and productive day I decided to reflect on the lessons taught to me by my Goofball Dog.

So what can you learn from a dog?  Well let me tell you, it is a lot more than you think and I will be a better person if I remember and practice these instructions that Max gave me.   I regret that I failed to pay attention to these treasures at the time he was teaching me but value what they will mean for the rest of my life.

YOU CAN ALWAYS BE HAPPY!  Nothing in life can prevent your happiness but you.  You control your thoughts.  You control what you focus on.   Max was a ball of happy energy, from the time that he opened his eyes each morning until he conned you to sitting on the couch and letting him cuddle next to you and fell to sleep.  Walking in the door each day after work was never the same after Max came to us.  No matter how self absorbed I was changed the moment that I encountered him.  Max focused on you, gave you all of the attention, lived for the moment and made sure that moment was great.  He was not just happy, but overflowed with it and he wanted to make sure that I was as well.  What a great gift, to be so happy that everyone around you is changed by your presence!  YOU CAN ALWAYS BE HAPPY!

IT'S NO BIG DEAL!  Do you get upset about really minor things?  I know I do.  Someone doesn't pay the attention to me that I want when speaking.  A rude driver passes and cuts me off.  I am betting I am not the only person that gets those feelings.  Max never got upset and I never saw a living creature that was more accepting of everything that happened.  We have always had at least 1 other dog and often more and also as many as 2 cats.  You all know how dogs are, a lot like us!  Some of our other furry family members would push in front of Max when eating or drinking.  In a dog's life, that is usually the beginning for a big problem.  Not for Max.  He knew that there would be more food or water when the other pets were done.   It didn't matter if it was another dog or one of the cats.  Max let them go and usually came to visit one of us with his goof look and twinkling eyes and he was as happy as could be.  The next time that you think about someone "disrespecting" you, think about that.  IT'S NO BIG DEAL!  Being patient and giving are a big part of this as well. 

ALWAYS BE LOVING, EVEN WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN'T!  I have faced some tough times in my life and I won't suggest that losing a pet is anywhere near as tragic as losing a family member.  Last night was one of the most difficult nights that I have dealt with and in Max's final hours and minutes he never stopped loving.  Max was diagnosed with a collapsing trachea about 6 months ago.  Symptoms began to show one day when I took him for a walk and he was very much out of breath after a very short distance.  The Vet said not much could be done except to treat symptoms.  I quit taking Max for walks (One of his 500 favorite things) and the symptoms rarely presented themselves.  For a few months Max was his normal ball of loving energy and rambunctiousness.  After that time, he started to cough and spit up when excited (Every time he saw us.) or  ran too fast when chasing birds.  (Another of his 500 favorite things. )  The symptoms cleared up once we spent a few minutes to calm him.  As time went on, the cough and wheezing got worse.  He was still doing pretty well though.  I wasn't feeling well yesterday and took the afternoon off from work.  Max tagged along everywhere I went in the house and napping with me for a bit.  (His absolute number 1 favorite thing in the world.)  Max seemed good but that would change.  That reminds me of another lesson from Max.  LIFE DOESN'T NEED TO BE EXTRAVAGANT.  LITTLE THINGS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.  Anyway, Max was having a pretty good day.  As I am known to do, I went to bed early.  Adele came home from work about 11 and Max gave her his customary and energized greeting.  This time he didn't recover so well and the coughing and hacking continued through the night.  Adele woke me at 2:30.  I tried to calm Max as Adele had already done, but, as bad as he was doing he couldn't restrain his love.  Coughing and wheezing, he struggled to greet me.  Dropping to the floor, we all tried to calm him and it worked some, but he was really struggling not able to get a breath.  He was weakening quickly and we knew it was time.  Driving and sobbing for 20 miles and however long it took is pretty much a blur.  We got to the Vet, were taken right to an exam room and I gently put Max on the floor.  He was still gasping and not understanding what was happening, but he was most comfortable remaining right at my feet.  The attendant lead us to the main treatment area and Max was rapidly going downhill but showed no fear.  I took my hand off of him as he lay on the table thinking he may be more comfortable without my hot, heavy hand.  He picked his head up and I knew that I needed to comfort him 1 last time as did Adele and Andrea.  The Vet gave Max the injection and he quieted down, relieving him of his stress from suffocating from the collapsed larynx.    Max was gone, but a lifetime of wonderful memories and great lessons remain.

You can always be happy.  It's no big deal.  Be patient and kind.  There will always be enough.  Always be loving, even if you think you can't. Life doesn't need to be extravagant.  Little things are the most important. 

Max, my trusted friend and companion, you are greatly missed.  Thanks for the lessons and the love.