In a freaking daze. I'll just
start from where I left off. The viewing
yesterday.
The caskett was closed, but I got
confirmation that Andy was indeed in his CD101 T-Shirt
and ripped jeans. Molly mentioned that on Wednesday
and I fuggin' dug it. I've always been annoyed at
the suit and tie for a dude that has never worn one.
The viewing was kinda like the public
remembrance-lite. Pictures of Andyman and a gathering
of friends and family. And then I got the
call...
Roxy might not make it through the
night. What. The. Fuck. For newcomers, this is my dog
Roxy:
She is the straight-woman for the
shennanigans that go on in the household as Shizzle
and now CeBe tend to take the spotlight.
So last week when I got back from
the two weeks in Columbus, I noticed she was a bit
skinnier. She's a huge dog, well over 100 pounds her
whole life, and her nickname was "Who doesn't miss a
meal?" (Say it like you're talking to a dog). So
I mentioned it to the guy renting the guesthouse
(Sean) and said to keep an eye on her. She was eating,
but very little. Would eat treats from my hand, and
was still jumpin' around and doing the normal routines
with me and CeBe, but I could tell she was a bit
slower. But hey, she's 7 1/2 and big dogs over 100
pounds rarely make it to 10. It was understandable
that she was slowing down.
Cut to the viewing and I get
a call from Sean that he doesn't think she's been
eating, and she just doesn't look good and thought she
wasn't gonna make it until tomorrow. Jesus. He was off
to San Diego to see his family and I called Paddy to
go over. His girlfriend Cher made it first, and phoned
Paddy to say it was really bad, and Paddy finally made
it a little later and said she would at least sit up
for him and he thought we should get her to a vet just
to see if there's anything obvious wrong. It seemed
like this was gonna end within hours, but if she was
in any sort of pain - I'd have them put her down
immediately. It was all such a whirlwind as I'm
rushing from the viewing to get home and get online to
do some research.
The vet did an initial examination
and said she wasn't in any pain, and didn't feel any
tumors or whatnot, but that we'd have to do some
extensive bloodwork and x-rays to pinpoint exactly
what was wrong. A tough moment. If she was 3? Of
course. But I've always been of the opinion that
animals have a life cycle, and there's nothing wrong
with that. They're supposed to die. It's our
responsibility to keep them comfortable, but
prolonging the life of a dying dog for our own benefit
seems perverse to me. We got her some medication for
her appetite and for hydration and Paddy took her back
home.
Today he stopped by twice and said
she was looking pretty "up" and was able to give her
the medication with some hot dogs, so she is eating...
but not her dry food. From my memory of Shizzle's last
day? This is eerily familar. It's that final
adrenaline push before they die. She's alive tonight,
but I am almost certain she won't make it until
Tuesday when I get home. She is going out behind the
trailer and laying by herself. Oh, that reminds me of
her trailer picture from 2006...
She loves that thing. But laying
behind it away from everyone is not a good sign. I
just can't believe this. So sudden.
Which of course brings us to
today's funeral/burial. It's just about all I can
do to walk right now. The funeral was catholic which
is another word for fucking long. LOL. But actually -
one moment made it all worthwhile for me. The
Priest-deacon dude said: "How would Andy have wanted
to spend his last week on earth if he had the choice?"
And it just hit us all. Exactly the way he did.
Short week at work, saying goodbye and I love you to
his listeners and friends. Going on vacation, spending
time with his kids and family. And especially the last
day with Molly having hours on end to sit and be with
each other. He really did have the best final week he
could've asked for. It really put me at peace with it
all... and then those bagpipes.
What is it about bagpipes? They
played the bagpipes in the church as they led him out
and there wasn't one dry eye. I mean, you had no
choice. It's as if that tone reverberates in your tear
ducts and there's simply no choice. And then again at
the burial playing Amazing Grace. Just overwhelming.
And Andy's brother Fred knew it too... so the second
it was done - he announced to the crowd: "Thank you!
We're done! Let's go get some food! Elvis has left the
building!" HAAAAAAAAAAAA. What a perfect way to end
these three days of grieving. Elvis has left the
building. Damn straight he has. I went up and
hugged him after that one. That was pretty pimp. Andy
would've dug that shit.
Afterwards a few of us went across
the street to his favorite restaurant "El Vaquero".
It's not exceptionally good mexican food, but it was
the right place to be. So funny he was buried across
the street from his favorite restaurant. Heh. And that
was where I got the first of now 2 phone calls from
Paddy explaining Roxy's progress. Sean gets back from
San Diego tonight and here's hopin' she can hang on a
few more days. Man, I can't even believe I'm saying
that. 7 years seems too young even for a big dog and
it's all so sudden. Ugh.
Anyway, a few of you have asked to
see the video that was played at the remembrance. I
actually didn't do the majority of it. A guy who
goes by Dr. DVD put the pitcure section together and
all I did was add the piece from the CD101
interview and of course the Family Guy bit. Hope you
enjoy it.
Elvis has left the building. Ha.
Thank you Fred. That was awesome. I mean, come
on:
A rockstar. Simply put. Hang in
there Rox. I'm comin' home soon.
