It hurts to say good-bye

Recently we left many things behind and disappeared into our new life. Among them were old habits, things we haven´t used for years, and many friends. It hurt to leave them behind, not knowing when we will meet them again.

As we want to go to Norway, we were looking for a vet to get the required vaccination for Umbria to cross the border. Unlike in Switzerland where you can find vets in every village we have to drive about 40km to a place that is not in our navigator. We leave the highway and continue on a country road. Fortunately a huge sign board indicates where to leave the road and continue on a gravel road for 3km into nowhere. I easily get worried when the road gets too narrow without possibility for a U-turn. Ronda is a bit too chubby for doing any gymnastic exercises, bending and twisting herself.

After a while we arrive at a single farm house with a huge car park and a vet sign. Relieved to find easy parking we settle down and walk to the practice. No wonder that the car park is empty because office hours have just started. The receptionist takes our details and asks us to come back in about 1 hour. Being on the road with a RV has the advantage that we can easily deal with such a situation and start our tea ceremony and snooze.

When we leave the RV we are surprised to see a full car park, and also a full waiting room. Dogs and cats give us a more or less friendly welcome growls. We sit down, prepared to wait here for another hour. Curiously I was observing humans and animals when an old woman carrying a dog in a blanket enters the room.

The dog seems to be really sick, leaking onto the floor and the woman´s trousers but still looking curiously around. The woman looks weak and takes a seat. Tears run out of her eyes. The receptionist quickly brings another blanket to soak up the fluids. After a few minutes the woman and her dog enter the surgery.

Nothing unusual for a vet practice though I never saw such a busy one in Cham. Our last vet visit was to a young vet who was receptionist, vet assistant and vet in one person. The waiting room was small and empty. The treatment nearly started immediately after we entered the practice.

We snooze along for nearly half an hour waiting for our turn when finally the old woman returns from the surgery, goes to the receptionist and pays the bill. When she turns around and walks to the exit she faces me. I can see her red eyes full of tears. She leaves without dog.

We don´t know if she has left the dog for good or just for a treatment. But we could feel a sadness.

Leaving a furry friend behind comes with bitter sadness, conjuring memories of the many happy moments that the four-legged friend has brought to us. Sensing this emotion reminds me also to enjoy every moment in the here and now with my wife and dog.

Cold wind is blowing into our faces. Nevertheless a moment of quiet happiness.