This entry is in loving memory of Furball (1988-2008), who was about the best feline a human could have been owned by.
Very early this morning, I had to take my beloved Furball to be put to sleep. It was, of course, traumatic; not the least because he had been with me through four apartments, two relationships, temp work, homelessness, and several serious medical issues. The actual process was quick and peaceful. He was given a shot, closed his eyes, sort-of sighed and was gone, with me petting him the whole time.
His greatest gift to me, however was his last. What I got to realize throughout the episode was that if this had happened, oh, two years ago, I’d have been calling everyone I knew to borrow money to pay for it. Not only that, but doing so would have sidelined me financially for a fairly long time.
This time it was different. My roommate contributed the fare for the taxis to and from the hospital (about half an hour away by car), but I didn’t have to ask any of my friends for money. Yes, I had to use a credit card to pay for it, which I would have preferred to not have to do. However, I did not have to use any of the credit cards that I had paid off. And the card I did use, which I had mostly paid down, was not maxed out after I used it (and is now resting in my desk drawer, where it will stay until it, too, is paid in full).
Okay, it’s a small victory, and it would have been much nicer to have a cash emergency fund to take the money out of instead, but that will come. The main thing is that I was able to handle the emergency without the usual anxiety that accompanies not having the resources to do so.
Thank you again, Furball. I hope that wherever you are you have a soft bed, nice company, and all the mice you want to chase.
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