Tuesday

Our family, plus Frank, our sick and dying dog, were to make the trip to West Tennessee for Thanksgiving with my family.

Traveling with all of the kids, plus arranging all of the pet stuff, always makes for a stressful situation. Much more so this time with Frank being so sick. He's not so sick that I think it's "time", so I thought I had made arrangements for him to stay at my grandmother's one night with us. Apparently not.

She calls, tells me that it's going to be super cold and her garage door doesn't close.

Well I'd never had any intention of letting Frank stay in the garage at her house. It truly astounds me that people don't get the love some of us have for our animals.

We have loved and cared for Frank for almost 11 years. I have spent much more time with him than I have my family in the last 11 years, and for this I am truly grateful. I do love my family, but Frank has loved me without condition for over a decade.

The same can not be said of my family.

Back to the story.

So when I say that he can just stay in the bathroom. He won't make a mess. She says that won't work. And I say, "Then we're not coming."

Period.

And she says, "Well, we still have a few days."

Nice. Sit there and hope my dog dies between now and Thursday morning so your mac and cheese don't go to waste.

You can bet your sweet patootie I wouldn't come now if you paid me.

So, how does this relate to my quest to enjoy my life?

Relief that I won't have to make a dying dog spend 10 hours in the car, in a cold garage to appease someone who has never known the love an animal.