Charlie Goes to Heaven

Baby has long had a charming habit: When either of her parents cries audibly, she starts laughing right along. As today was the day that we put our elder dog down, there was plenty of crying – and plenty of laughing in the house. As for the veterinarian’s visit to our home, and the work he had to do, we did decide to allow baby to witness the event. She was actually breastfed during part of it. What she could understand of the difficult day, she did understand; what she couldn’t, she didn’t. Certainly her buoyant presence was a gift from God, and I hope that her first experience of the passing of a beloved member of the family (in a peaceful and dignified way) will be the beginning of a lifetime of being at peace with such things.