Sick Sad Little Pet

So many of us have had to say goodbye to our beloved pet; so many of us have had to bury them; and so many of us were left heartbroken.

The death of a pet scars us in ways that we can't fathom into words. It is an immeasurable level of pain that few of us can bear to endure. I remember the day my dwarf hamster died. His name was Apollo and his behavior was more feline than rodent-like. He responded to the name I'd chosen for him, and he ate more food than was necessary. But none of that mattered, because he was all the more cuddly. The healthy glow about him belied his sickness. A tumor which had formed on his stomach grew to great magnitude, threatening to devour him inside. It struck silently, dangerously, finally snuffing out the life of a beloved friend. 

Apollo died in my hands. He writhed and wheezed and struggled to force air into his lungs, the tumor conducting one last attack. Lifeless he lay, the hamster who strove to be a cat and who ate voraciously. The hours leading up to Apollo's burial proved to be distressing, and I refused to take part in the ritual. I could not bury my friend; I hadn't the heart. My dad dug a hole in the yard and lowered Apollo's make-do coffin into the grave. His final resting place. 

I have long since coped with the death of Apollo, but every now and again, I am reminded of the pain of his absence. However, I know, deep down, that my friend has crossed over Rainbow Bridge--a place in heaven reserved for our dearest friends.

Two years later, I rescued a goldfish and took him under my wing. Two days later, he died. The cause? Underoxygenation. Down he went, eyes vacant and bulging, in a swirling tornado of toilet water, navigating the tunnel that will show him Rainbow Bridge. 

Summer, Summer, Summer!

The smell of summer is in the air. The sweet fragrances fill our nostrils. Flowers on trees bloom. The days are longer and the nights warmer. Nothing can compare to the beauty of summertime. It's a kiss. It's a smile. It's a sip of wine. There is no greatest happiness than watching a star-strewn sky, or feeling the touch of a quick summer breeze caress your face.

Summer anthems play loudly, reminding us that youth is at its loveliest. Sweet memories float before our eyes, a smile drawn on our lips; all is well.

School is out. Summer stretches ahead of us like a sweet promise. The sense of peace and absence of urgency overcome us. The sun on our faces, water flowing beneath us, fireflies lighting up the way.

Our romance with summer is short-lived, addicting, but worth the post traumatic breakup disorder. It has no precedent. It's more satisfying than an actual relationship, and there are no strings attached. Once it's over, it's over. And no amount of begging will make it change its mind. For summer, there are no do-overs or second chances. Only the present.

We fall in love with summer, because summer is good to us. Summer brings pleasure into our lives. It brings hope, adventure, adrenaline. Summer makes sure we are happy. Or rather, we make sure we are happy in summer. Summer takes us to wonderful places, buys us beautiful things, and whispers sweet nothings in our ear. Summer is the partner every person needs.

With summer arise new opportunities. Opportunity to have a summer fling. Opportunity to travel. Opportunity to reinvent ourselves. Opportunity to recharge our spirit. Opportunity to start new friendships. Opportunity to do what we've always wanted to do.

Opportunities sail with the wind, unrestrained and wild, lying in wait for the next person who snags them.

Summer jolts our world-weary bodies into action. Our eyes explode in surprise, our mouth stretches into an O, and we see, for the first time in months, the full colors of life.

Summer is about starting over, and letting go of could've, would've and should've.

What Are You Reading This Summer?

A vacation is never really a vacation unless I have a bewildering array of books to choose from. I enjoy summer not because I can lie on the beach, soaking up the sunshine, but because I can stay in--homework-free--and tackle the mountain of books awaiting to be read.

To take full advantage of all that summer has to offer, I have compiled a list of books I have or plan to read:

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Make sure you have a box of Kleenex at your disposal. This contemporary love story is not for the faint of heart. Green's best-selling novel helps readers navigate the road of star-cursed romance and heartbreak. If you're looking to shed a few tears, this is the novel for you. In John Green's world, love is stronger than the untimely alignment of the stars.

2. The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez: America is the land of promise, of opportunities and wealth. Or so we've been made to think. In Cristina Henriquez's novel the challenges of trekking to unforeseen land are explored. This novel brings forth a new definition of what it means to be an American.

3. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan: The talented Yale graduate who died in a tragic car crash left behind a treasure trove of writing that is meant to inspire younger generations. Marina's writing is witty, comical, and universal. Her fiction and nonfiction is imbued with the wisdom of a young woman learning what it means to be young, alive, and full of expectations.

4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: At age thirty-five, after moving with her husband to New York, Elizabeth realized that she wanted neither a child nor a husband. After a protracted divorce, she embarked on a yearlong trip across Italy, India, and Indonesia. Along the way, Elizabeth made three stops: Rome, for pleasure; Mumbai for spiritual reinforcement; and Bali for "balancing." Accompany Elizabeth on the journey through recovery and self-fulfillment, and be prepared to find adventure along the way.

5. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers: McCullers is the queen of freaks. While not a freak herself, McCullers made it her personal mission to give a voice to those who do not have one. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter  centers on John Singer, a deaf-mute who, despite his hearing impairment, becomes the confident of the town's losers. Touching and powerful, McCullers's characters stay in your mind indelibly.