Saying Goodbye and a Surface Warfare Specialist

August 25, 2012

Saying Goodbye and a Surface Warfare Specialist

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened..."

~ Anatole France

Ten years ago my Mom and I walked into a veterinarian's office in Morehead City, NC. We were there to inquire about a cat my Mom actually wanted to adopt. Unfortunately, when we got there we were told that the cat was no longer available. When I heard this I sat down in the waiting area and started messing around on my phone and waited for my Mom to be done chatting with the receptionist, like the seventeen year old I was...completely not interested. I wasn't paying attention but I did hear the lady say "We do have someone else maybe you'd like to meet?" And she went and opened one of the exam rooms. Out ran this little black fur ball who immediately stopped at my feet and looked at me like "Please pick me up!" They introduced us, his name was Spanky and he pretty much chose me that day. We were told someone had put him in a trash bag and tossed him onto the side of the road before being found and brought to the vet. Without any thought and a very compassionate Mom to say yes, he came home with me that day and immediately became part of our family. He grew as many of you know to be quite the fatty, and he had the loudest purr motor of any cat that ever lived. Spanky was a city cat, a beach cat, and was loved by his room mates along the way...even accepting James into his heart...eventually :) He was one of my best friends.

Last Friday, we had to say goodbye to Spankerrific. It was the by far the hardest decision I have ever made in my life, but he had a tumor in his throat and was in a great deal of pain. The vet could not promise me he would make a full recovery to eat on his own again, and I always said whenever we got any of our animals that quality of life was the most important thing. So, with lots of reassurance from family and the vet I was doing the right thing, Spanky went to sleep with me and James there with him letting him know how much we loved him.

We miss him so much, and poor Brutus still looks for him...but I know he is definitely in a much better place now that he isn't in pain anymore. I also take much comfort in knowing that he had a pretty great life, complete with fresh fish and shrimp more often than a cat probably should have gotten (thanks Granddad!) and warm laundry whenever he heard the buzzer. That was a long way from the side of the road in a trash bag and I'm so happy I got to give him that life :) Spanky-man...you were the best fat cat that ever lived! It was quite a week of highs and lows...bringing Mason home from the hospital and having to say goodbye to Spanky, but with lots of love from Lilly and Brutus, my little man, and James Howard I am doing much better than I thought I would!!

And onto some much happier news, it was a big week in the Navy world too! For the past nine months, since James stepped on board the USS Roosevelt he has been completing requirements for the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin. To explain what this is, ESWS (Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) qualification recognizes the efforts of a select group of enlisted individuals trained in surfaceship operations. Attainment of the ESWS designation signifies that a member has achieved a level of excellence above and beyond that of his peers in proficiency in surface ships. The ESWS pin signifies that the wearer is fully competent in his rate, as well as the areas of damage control, maintenance, and material management, safety, watchstanding, and general knowledge of engineering and combat systems.

After completing everything on his checklist he still had to sit for the boards. Those consist of the board sitting across from James and basically firing questions. It is a verbal test and on the spot! To sit for the boards, that required lots of studying. Lots of studying in a house with visitors in and out, a newborn baby at home, a wife who only has that newborn baby on the brain...you can see how this could easily distract someone! BUT, in true James Howard fashion he passed both boards with flying colors. He completed the first board this past Monday and the Chiefs Board on Friday. He did amazingly well on both! He spent last weekend in the library studying so this weekend he is taking some much deserved relaxation time! We went out to breakfast this morning with Mason, he has been laying around watching movies today, and tonight we are grilling hotdogs! Fancy, huh?! I am so proud of James and all of his hard work.

He goes to work on Monday and then his official paternity leave starts and he is off for two weeks! Whoohoo! We are going to Dunn for Labor Day weekend for some family time and to celebrate Molly Carter's 2nd birthday. James gets to participate in the big dove hunt next Saturday for the first time in three years...and then Tuesday after Labor Day we head down to the beach for some relaxation time with Granddad Hardison and Uncle Will and Aunt Annie! We might even take Mason on his first boat ride :)

This Wednesday we go to the doctor for a checkup for Monster Mason and see how much weight he has gained and how much he has grown! We will definitely update you on that and of course with some pictures from Mason meeting lots of family next weekend!

What's a blog post without some pictures of the nugget? Below are the many faces of Mason Eldridge...Enjoy!