Originally Posted by tromboneliness

... is dying, and I'm shedding a lot more tears over him than I ever did over either of my parents. Weird -- or maybe it isn't. He has been my best buddy for 15 years -- unconditional love, just wants to hang with me all day if he can, whines and mopes when I'm not home (or so I'm told), hops in my lap when I'm working at home, or when I'm not-working at home... I had put him to bed for a nap, but he just appeared through the doorway. Even though he's weak and has no appetite (advanced kidney disease -- and please don't tell me all the things that can be done; we had that discussion with the vet, and in the end, told her we just want to give him hospice care and not do anything he doesn't like; he hates going to the vet, getting stuck with needles, and any of that), he's more concerned about me than himself -- when he sees me going to pieces over his fate, he gets all worried and tries to help me. My best buddy, ever. I bet you guys understand some or all of this!

T