February Dean's Message

I wish I could say otherwise, but this Christmas for me was not all that great. On December 28th my partner Bill and I said our farewells to our little Miniature Schnauzer, Otto, a faithful companion for over sixteen years. His condition steadily declined during the month of December, and a steep decline began on Christmas Eve. The decision to end Otto’s life was devastating, but the right one for the three of us. We will eventually be comforted by a wealth of memories of fun times with Otto.

While he was a puppy, I was music director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal in Seattle. I would occasionally take him to the church while I practiced. (I suffered from separation anxiety.) He would eventually drift off to sleep at the sound of the organ. When he was a young dog, he would occasionally provide a low-pitched vocal accompaniment as I practiced the piano at home. Sometimes we would sing duets: I would sing in falsetto and he would emit a high pitched sound from a perfectly round embouchure. He was taken to the animal blessings at St. Andrew’s but, being a high-strung pooch, would probably have been blessed more by staying at home. The following paragraph is what Otto “wrote” in our annual Christmas letter:
 
2009 started off smashingly, but then turned into an “annus horribilis.” In March I somehow tore my right rear ACL, and as a result I had a difficult time getting around. I was taken to the vet, a real nice lady, but she messes around with me, you know what I mean? I don’t like people messing around with me. It was decided that it would not be wise to have surgery at my age. I was also to limit my walks and take it easy on stairs. Then the edict came down to cut back on treats to keep my weight down. Nobody, but nobody consulted me on that one. The doc gave me these pain pills that were the yuckiest tasting things I’ve ever eaten, and that’s saying a lot. After a while I learned to compensate for my injured leg and was getting around pretty well, when in May I started to not feel all that great. I was taken to the vet again, and after an x-ray, it was discovered that I had swallowed something I shouldn’t have. The next day I was taken to yet another vet. Let me tell you it was awful! The next thing I know I’m waking up after having a piece of glass surgically removed from my stomach. Don’t ask---it tasted pretty good at the time. I was recovering from that ordeal, and then I started to faint every so often. You should have seen them freak out. I was taken to the vet again for an ultrasound, and I got put on more pills for my heart and all sorts of other thing--- pills, pills, pills, at every meal and sometimes in between. How can they come up with so many foul tasting meds? I celebrated my sixteenth birthday on October 10th and I guess it was a big deal. I got a few extra treats and a lot more attention than I really wanted.

Alas, Otto’s various health problems and age finally caught up with him. A friend of ours wrote that she believes our animal companions show us a bit of what God’s love is. Otto’s American Kennel Club registered pedigree name is Prinz Otto von Regenstadt (Prince Otto of Rain City.) So, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Richard Lind, Dean