This is Sam. She is my constant companion. She has had three operations to remove cancer from various places on her body. Last August, two weeks after she healed from the last operation, I noticed another hot spot near where the last one was. She's 12-13 years old. I don't want to put her through that experience again--the vet agrees. Now she has become very, very spoiled. (Much more than I normally would have allowed.) She sleeps a lot. Sometimes she gets stiff and has to get up and walk to the next room and back. She also is much more talkative than she used to be--moans, groans, barks and yips. But she still likes to play and loves to go for walks. I understand that cancer is common in black labs and I'm trying to prepare myself for her absence. Sometime in their life, everyone should have a pet as loving, loyal and spoiled rotten as Sam has been.

It's All a Blur

This has been my worst term for awhile. There are only four days left and I'm still behind. It may not be my best work, but I will finish everything. Many moons ago, when I went to college the first time, I didn't go out to celebrate the end of the semester. I didn't have that feeling of fulfillment or satisfaction from having done a good job. I felt relieved. I'm not saying I feel that way now, but maybe something similar. Regret? I'm not ready to end this one. I haven't learned everything. I don't feel fulfilled or even content. As a matter of fact, I feel a little cheated. There was so much material to cover that, even had I not gotten behind, I still would not have touched on every topic. I rushed through everything, remembering just enough to pass the final. Good thing I'm not planning to become a doctor!