Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated December 17, 2008
Illustration from Henry and Ribsy, by Beverly Cleary
Soon to be 65, the occasional bumble-headed editor still shakes his fuzzily balding head in wonder at the Christmas season. First, why are some people trying to make it only the “holiday season”?
I suppose it’s the same folks who are making Halloween into harvest time. Next we’ll have Bunny Basket Day instead of Easter. St. Valentine’s Day could become Hearts & Flowers Festival. All these changes give me a headache. And a heartache.
Speaking of heartaches, last week we gave up our 14-year-old doggy, Bingo. Having him euthanized was not easy; we had him since he was a literal handful of puppy. He grew to be a 50-pound great companion. But during the past several months his condition deteriorated. He was losing weight; he was 98 percent deaf; his back was arched, as his hips obviously were causing him pain; and his eyes were getting cloudy.
Now he’s free of pain. We know that he’s liberated to run free and easy. Yes, we miss him. But you know, we humans too often wait too long to let our pets go. Didn’t want that to happen with Bingo. So we said our good-byes, and our hairy friend went peacefully.
Back to the Christmas season, which is where I was headed earlier. The more such seasons I experience, the more I wonder at the pain, frustration and suffering that seem to descend like a black cloud on humanity. It’s supposed to be a time of joy and celebration -- at least it is for Christians recalling the birth of a savior.
But there seem to be more family disputes, fights and squabbles. The number of traffic crashes, fires and other disasters seem to mount. There is illness, seemingly more than usual. People become anxious and frustrated; there is anger amid the bright lights and gaily wrapped packages. People seem disappointed instead of grateful.
I know there’s an answer out there. Maybe even some sort of solution; at least a partial one.
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Meanwhile, as we ponder, we’re praying for a truly happy Christmas time for our valley and our country. And though we know that each Yuletide now will bring memories of our good bud Bingo, happy ones tinged with grief, we will recall him fondly through our remaining years here. He was a great dog.
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