The Folly of a Desk Lunch

*Sigh*

Because it is cold outside today (my office mate just warmed one of her hands on my arm so I know that it is indeed icy outside) I ate my lunch at my desk. I spent the first bit reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (I have to finish the 900-page book sometime!) and, when I got to a good stopping point toward the end of my meal, switched over to reading Pawcurious for the duration of my half-hour. Big. Mistake. The post I happened to read was this post. If you know me at all, you already know that reading a post about dying dogs that ended with the following poem was a terrible, terrible idea. Especially at work.

“I Stood By Your Bed Last Night”

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said “it’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew …
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is almost over… I smile and watch you yawning
and say “goodnight, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out … then come home to be with me.

Needless to say, I spent the last three minutes of my lunch break frantically shoving my tissue into my eyes to stem the ever-growing mass of tears pooled at the the brink, waiting to rush down my cheeks in a deeply embarrassing display of sentimentality. Yeesh. I blame my mother for this. The woman never met a movie or a goodbye she couldn't sob over. Curse you, smooshy heart!!! Dang. I really hope I got one of those super-awesome dogs that never ages...