Thread by @ooana

November 28 2020 on Facebook I wrote from NYC

So I’m walking Maxine with a friend who also has a Cavalier and there’s a man outside a vet’s office we are passing; one I know well...I brought Morgan there more times than I care to remember.

I remember every word of what happened next as if I was playing back a tape.

He’s kneeling with his body slumped over against the wall howling with wrecked sobs. People are standing around, several holding their pets close to their chest. No one is moving toward him.

I ask my friend to hold Maxine’s leash and walked over to kneel with the man saying “I know you’re not okay, but is there anything I can do?” He said. “Could you please just touch me?” I said “of course” and placed my hand on and stroked his back.

His shaking and heavy cries began to subside. He said “he was fine then had 9 seizures today, he tried to stay and on the way here he.....” My hand still on his back I asked, “what’s his name?” He said “Mate. He was such a good boy.” I asked “how old and what kind of dog?”

He said four and a half and a French Bull dog and Boston mix.

We sat there for a few moments. He said his wife was home with their other dog. I said “good, you won’t be alone.” He then showed me a photo of his son in law and their baby boy who had just moved in with them.

I said “and you’ve got a lot of love you need to be giving out.” He said “yes” and said “thank you so much.” He called his son in law to come meet him.

Even if living with people, we are human beings and there are moments that this life of social distancing and no touching is

simply impossible. There are some moments that strangers are the only ones we have.

I’ve never seen a human being calm so quickly and deeply at a touch. He was still heartbroken, of course, but he wasn’t shaking and his voice steady.

We can’t stop being human with each other. We mustn’t stop.

RIP Mate. You were a wonderful, very loved dog.
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#BeHuman #BeKind

Morgan as a puppy with me in 2004. My mom and her pup Dash (look familiar?) on March 20, 2020. Maxine just before COVID in 2010

And Maxine last week…she says “tell em! Tell ‘em!”

Make a little birdhouse in your soul. 🐦

Typo before COVID in 2020. 🫣