Dog Day Afternoon

Two weeks ago I received a letter from my friend Kaoru, which reminded me of one Saturday afternoon in 2000. Her entire neighborhood planned a barbeque party for their dogs. They usually do this every year, and the spring season is ideal, when its not too humid and not too cold for the dogs to play in the water. We drove for about an hour out of Tokyo to Iwaki river. It was a shallow river, situated below a bridge. The men set up the foldable barbeque table, and started the barbeque. They grilled fresh vegetables like onions and chilli peppers along with the chicken yakitori. This was accompanied by plenty of beverages, teas and softdrinks, along with the Japanese energy drink Pocari sweat.










I remember saying to myself, people back home would envy the lives these dogs live. Monchi, a black newfoundland had been driven in a van because of his size, while Boss the dalmatian was being served with food while her owner's knee-bent. Obaasan (a term for grandma) was playing with her beagle, who had all the play gear. Kaoru has Kelly, a golden retriever who had a good disposition, beautiful coat, and loving family to take care of her.












Kaoru wrote to tell me that Kelly had passed away. She writes in pain.

Kaoru Tanaka wrote:

Armi,

Do you remember our lovely dog Kelly? We went to BBQ together with him and his friends once. Kelly just passed away on Saturday. I don't know how to handle it now. He was my hope to live even. He had a cancer, and we just found that out couple of weeks ago. Then, suddenly he left us on Saturday night alone in the hospital. When he came back to our house, his face was just like he was sleeping. Hope he made his peace with god in the heaven.
Now I am dicouraged to have baby. It is too hard to accept loss or pain of someone who I really love especially when I cannot help them. Also I am scared that making decision for someone, when it effect ones life. I decided to give strong medicin to kill cancer to Kelly. He was suffering a lot last 3 days. I cannot help thinking that that medicin could be a cause of his death. I killed Kelly. Doctor says it should not be the medicin but they don't know either.Anyway, please pray for Kelly that he is peacefull life in the sky.