Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

 

“This is what Friday’s are meant to be.”

Friday again. It is the last Friday before Christmas. I hope you have all your shopping done. I know I do. (Thank heavens)

This week has been busy. I finally got some help from Grammarly. Guess what they came up with? Uninstall the existing program and reinstall a new one. Can you say DUH? I mean if that was the solution why give me a trial and error week? I should have just done that myself. (Gotta stop again. After all, it is the Holidays and I have a working program.)

Bailey is beginning to be picky about her food. We just got in a supply of the food she loved and she now doesn’t like it. We have gone to chicken which she thinks is fine for now. If and when she is no longer interested in food, we know she is telling us the time is near. We will keep offering her choices in order not to make the mistake of thinking she is asking for some relief. As long as she is eating we know she is interested in being with us. Sadly the end result is known and it is hard to imagine we will have to let her go. Bailey came to us nine years ago on Christmas.

As her stewards, we need to keep her interests as primary. Today’s John Ku tries to avoid the obvious and talks about the best Christmas gifts.

Christmas by John W. Howell © 2018

The best Christmas gifts,

Are not measured by how much. . .

But rather by love.

65 comments

  1. Sorry to hear about the eating. Hope she gets some appetite back and has a fun Christmas.

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    1. We hope so too, Charles. We don’t eat beef in our house but we bought some ground beef and I grilled Bailey a burger last night. She loved it so maybe if we keep changing things up we can keep her interested. Thanks

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      1. Awesome. Think she’d like a bison burger if she turns off to beef? Not much of a difference, but who knows.

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      2. Might be worth a try.

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  2. I know it must be hard. My dad knew it was time to let his fifteen-year-old hound go when he was so arthritic he couldn’t get out of his doghouse anymore. I cried when I had to give up a pet cat when we moved and the lady renting to us didn’t allow animals. The vet we had found a good home for her so we felt better. At least Bailey will be with you over the holidays and for a while afterward. As you probably know, it’s the same with elderly people. I knew when my mother stopped eating it wouldn’t take long. She had Alzheimer’s and the nursing home took good care of her. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, John. —- Suzanne

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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  3. Oh, Bailey. May your appetite return. Our Henry lost his love for food toward the end, but he still loved his carrots and zucchini. Spat out the celery, though, always…. YES, the only gift that really matters, is LOVE.

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    1. Thank you, Pamela. We hope so too. She is eating but very little.

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  4. Wonderful JohnKu, John. I hope Bailey’s appetite returns in time for Christmas. xo

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    1. We do too, Jill. I grillled her a burger last night and she did enjoy it. Thank you.

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  5. Hoping for Bailey the very best.

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    1. Thank you, GP. 🙂

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  6. That’s an absolutely wonderful photo of Bailey. The wise and perceptive look in her eye says it all — she knows she’s loved.

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    1. I think she does as well, Linda. Thank you.

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  7. Gwen Plano · ·

    Always “by love”…. thank you for sharing one of your great loves with us (Bailey) and for offering this beautiful Johnku. ❣️

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    1. Thank you for the nice words, Gwen.

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  8. Sending you hugs and offering prayers, John.

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    1. Thank you, so much, Staci.

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  9. A beautiful and fitting haiku for the season. Meanwhile, strength to you and Mrs. H as you deal with Bailey. That is so damn hard!

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    1. It is hard, Frank. Thank you for the support.

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  10. Ah I hope she stays comfortable. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.

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    1. Thank you, Alison. We hope so too. Happy Christmas and New Year to you as well. 🙂

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  11. Wishing Bailey and the rest of you all the best. I think you covered it pretty well today, John.

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  12. Bailey is so fortunate to have you guys. I pray this Christmas finds you all enjoying the little moments. Sweet Bailey. Beautiful Girl ♡
    Merry Christmas, John

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    1. Thank you Audrey. There are moments of joy among the moments of tears. Merry Christmas to you.

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  13. Sorry this is happening. I’ve been there multiple times and it never gets easier. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas.

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    1. Thank you, Craig. Merry Christmas to you and Old What’s Her Face.

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  14. A perfect John Ku – couldn’t have said it better. Praying Bailey’s appetite picks up again. Merry Christmas, John!

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    1. Thank you, Teri.

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  15. I do sincerely ‘feel your pain’! God Bless Bailey! ♥

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    1. Thank you, Billy Ray

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  16. Oh John, I do hope your beloved Bailey stays with you through the holiday season. Our furbabies offer us such love & comfort, it is heart wrenching when they decline in health & nudge us to let us know our time together is limited. Wishing you, Bailey & your family a ton of hugs together & more good days together.

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    1. Thank you so much, Lynn. It is quite a journey.

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  17. Ah, John, my heart goes out to you and the producer. It’s never easy to watch someone you love, whether furred or human, go down the final path. Please know I have all of you in my prayers, and Bailey, pretty girl, you hang in there and keep trying new foods!

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    1. Thank you, Debbie.

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  18. Good luck with Bailey, John. Hopefully you will all have a great Christmas. My shopping is done. Well, waiting on Amazon to deliver a couple of things but touch wood …

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    1. Thank you, Guy. My shopping is done as well. I had one last thing come in today.

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  19. D.L Finn, Author · ·

    I hope you find the food she wants and you have an amazing Christmas together. Perfect poem that sums it all up. Merry Christmas.

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    1. Thank you, Denise

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  20. How is it going with Grammarly other than what you wrote here?

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    1. It is working fine. Thanks, Luanne.

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      1. Although it’s certainly not perfect it does make me stop and consider things that I might not otherwise.

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      2. True. It really can’t get dialog though.

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  21. How fitting that Bailey is starting to leave you at this time of year. Love is indeed the best gift and she has given love and received love every day. Love the regal photo of her.

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  22. To Bailey and to love.

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    1. Thank you, Marc. She is surrounded with love.

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      1. Peace and love to you all, John.

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      2. Hugs man. Hey, not too close.

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  23. I love this Haiku, John. It is so true. Sending light and love to Bailey. May she hold on as long as she can!

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    1. Thank you, Jan. She is getting weaker each day. Breaks my heart.

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  24. A beautiful JohnKu. A very Merry Christmas to Bailey. 🎄

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    1. Thank you, Jennie

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      1. You’re welcome, John.

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  25. I’m so sorry, John…

    A beautifully done Johnku. Great big hug.

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    1. Thank you, Teagan.

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  26. Found myself tearing up reading this post John. I hope Bailey makes it into the new year….
    Warm thoughts being sent your way from Nova Scotia. ♥️

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    1. I have been tearing for a week, Lynne. Her decline is more rapid than I wouod hve believed. She is such a sweet girl. Yeah I’m tearing up again. Thank you so much for te comforting words.

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    1. Thank you, Traci.

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  27. […] via Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF […]

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  28. Perfect Johnku. You are doing all you can for Bailey, and then some. Trying new foods is a good idea, anything to encourage her to eat, but, yeah, once they’re in palliative care, it seems decline can be pretty rapid. But I know you’re making her as comfortable as can be and you’ll let go when she’s says “enough.” Love you, John, and love to your wife and Twiggy and Lucy and dear dear Bailey.

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    1. Thank you, Marie. ❤

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