72 Hours

If you knew one of your best friends had 72  hours to live and the clock was ticking, what would you do?

Would you go to your job?  Would you watch TV?  Would you go for a walk?  Pray for a miracle?  How would you maximize those precious hours?

In the past 3 days Doc and I have experienced such a deadline.  It was a heartbreaking, yet very special time.

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Tonight our little Chihuahua and faithful friend Sparky went to heaven.  He was a furry manifestation of unconditional love.

Adoption Day Jan 2003

We adopted Sparky (and Dachshund Norman) from a Chihuahua Rescue Shelter eleven years ago.  He had been given up because he had a back injury and his owners did not want to deal with it.  At the rescue shelter he jumped up and down in his cage and begged us to take him home.  He promised to be the bestest  little guy if we would just take him home and love him.  He kept his promise.

Friday night on Valentine’s, Sparky went into some sort of spasms.  We rushed him to emergency where he spent the night.  Doc was beside himself in having to leave his buddy with strangers in a cage overnight.  The next evening Doc went to retrieve Sparky insisting that his final days would be at home, not in a hospital.

Several Starbucks Visits

Taking Time to Smell the Irises

Just "BE" with Me

Sparky made the most of his final three days.  He could not use his limbs, eat or drink, but his smile and his heart were as loving as ever.  Doc took Sparky for their usual Starbucks runs, they went for “walks” (even though Sparky was being carried), and they enjoyed time laying in the grass by the pond.   

"Ride" in the 38 Chevy

At one point Doc realized Sparky had never gone for a drive in the restored 38 Chevy, so they sat together in the front seat as Doc simulated a drive. 

Doc rented the video Beverly Hills Chihuahua which we laughed through as a family.  Doc prepared a bed for us on the floor so we could sleep with Sparky.  The first night Sparky slept next to us, the second night he slept between us, and the third night he spent much of the time sleeping on my chest so we were heart to heart.

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Over the past decade Sparky has shown so much love and friendship.   I think these past 72 hours took that to an even higher level.  I truly believe that he CHOSE not to pass last Friday night in order to help us through the grieving process.  In these past 3 days we have had so many friends and family drop by, text, email or call to send their love.  Even total strangers stopped to give Sparky love as we carried him on “walks”. 

Hold Me and Love Me

Sparky did not seem to be in any pain, yet each time we set him down, he whimpered. He did not want any food, water or anything else - he just wanted to be held and to give and receive love.   So essentially for 72 hours, our lives revolved around the little guy and around this concept.

My Job is Done, I'm Ready to Go

Thought:  How different the world would be if our actions were based purely upon the exchange of love.

THANK YOU SPARKY for setting an example for us all.