Oh, Allyson, that's ridiculously hard. But he was going to die alone and cold and afraid and you were able to give him love and warmth and courage, and that's not a small gift.

This. So sad, but so kind.

Oh, Allyson! That is awful; I would be a wreck. It was SO the right thing to do, but hard, hard, HARD. Don't regret what you didn't do, because what you did was absolutely right for the information you had, and he was safe, warm, happy and had delicious turkey.

I am so sad for you, though.

In annoying news, I am getting dozens of spam text messages all in a row. Annoying!

Also, I should have grocery shopped today, but did not.

Oh Allyson, I am so sorry. You absolutely did the right thing for him, and he was able to spend his last few days warm and loved. I know that doesn't make it any easier for you, but you made things better for him.

Huh. This bus has wifi. Cool! (Although the person in front of me has their seat tilted back so I can't put the screen in a decent postion.)

Just leaving Oshkosh. (B'gosh!)

Lots of love to you Allyson.

I went over and gave how to manage your stuff talks and demos to the family with bedbugs. I sealed up 2 bags of stuff from their house and brought here to wash and then treat and store. Then I went out and bought mattress enclosures for all their beds, 7 mattresses. The church has a fund to help them with expenses that come up unexpectedly, but I think this might have emptied it out - over $600 worth. I am so glad I could just donate them the isolator dishes, giant ziplocks and some plastic bins. That would have been a few hundred more and they don;t have that much extra sitting around.

Oh, mother. She called to see if I wanted to do something with them tomorrow. I said sure, but I have this massage at 11. So I wouldn't be over there until 1:30 or 2. That's kind of late, she says. Late for what?? We're going to take my grandmother shopping, I don't need to do that for more than three hours anyway, and that would still get them home in plenty of time for dinner at 6. I mean, seriously.

Am now in Fon du Lac. (For those of you who are placing pushpins on a map.)

My dad has vision difficulties as a result of recent cataract surgery (and possibly his Parkinson's). His driving made me nervous and made me feel bad for not having my drivers license renewed in time for my trip.

That's very very nice of you, msbelle.

Allyson, I'm so very sorry. If it helps with perspective, I've done the same thing four times, taken in a stray. Twice it's ended in unexpected tragedy, twice it's ended in a long, loving relationship.

In Oliver's case, everyone else is so right. He was warm, he was fed, he was safe from sudden fearful pain and death, and he was even loved enough to be named. He didn't starve, cold and alone, and he wasn't in pain. You did your very very best for him, and it's nobody's fault it just wasn't to be this time. Don't let it steel you against future need, though. Oliver wouldn't want that.

Peace and comfort to you.