What is the measure of a life?

The cycle of life is one that many cannot accept. I know that in my parent's last years there was denial that they were ill. They would have another health issue, and then would feel that they'd just get over that and they would be 'fine'.

The only things that are certain are death and taxes. OK, death WITH taxes, trust me on that one! We had such complications with the executors Mom & Dad chose (not us) and they didn't want the job by the time Dad joined Mom at that cottage in the sky.

We watch the wildlife around us, and the trees. My neighbour mourned the trees that fell in the last hurricane, and feeling particularly poetic, I suggested that the old trees fall making room for the younger ones to seek the sun.

Many fish and hunt around here. It is a cycle of human life to seek food. Most of us are still meat eaters. As are our cats...

Having your peers pass over brings you to a taste of mortality, which many cannot face. I have come to terms with this, had enough Hospice clients, that I know that when the time comes I have the tools to deal with it. It is those who must mourn who do the suffering.


That said, it broke my heart that our black cat, Oliver, mortally wounded a duckling one morning. It was painful watching it as it struggled with life. We tucked it into an old cloth diaper and watched it. At least, I visited with my Hospice client, while Brian nursed it all day. How difficult this was.

When I came home, I was determined not to let it suffer anymore. I put it out of its misery.

I sat at my computer, dealing with this, when he managed to grab another duckling. It died in my hand, wrapped in an old tea towel, a 'crying towel' I won for a miserable bowling score ( <99) back in 1990-something!




We are now watching Oliver like a hawk. Unfortunately, our red-tailed hawk, who continually harasses the robins in the trees, grabbed a robin on our lawn. I was on the deck in a flash, and videotaped it.

I was so shocked. In 2 minutes the robin was gone, you can hear the other robin screaming at the hawk in the video. These robins had managed two broods this summer. I can see why. Every afternoon, said hawk flies over with a fish in its talons, too.

It is important to laud each day. Never mind the weather, as most Canadian complain about too hot, or too cold. Maybe it is a safe conversational topic...

Embrace each day. Tell someone you love them. Drive carefully, walk purposefully, make a difference in the world. Somebody out there loves you.