I’m 48 years old now. But I’ve never forgotten the time when as a 13 year old boy I had to say good-bye to my friend Blackie whom I’d remembered as always being there. He was suffering simply from old age(16 man years) and was going to be put to sleep that day that I had to say good-bye and get on the bus to go to school. I tear up to this day when I think about that day, I can remember it like it was yesterday. But I’m thankful for that day, and the lesson that dear Blackie taught me about life and death. Only a couple of years later, at favorite grandfather would die. Of course, there’s no equating the two, but for a young man Blackie’s death made pappaw’s death less devestating. God truly did give us pets I believe to help frail humans deal with death.

Greg from AR