memorial – Reality Lifestyles. What Reality Do You Believe In?

A Respected Reality

To some, Memorial Day is the start of the summer season.

For others, it is a sad reminder of profound lost and meaningless reason.

For the families who lost a soldier due to the cruelties of war.

To the parents who lost a loved one due to neglect, sickness, or justice unfair.

Observed on the last Monday of May and formerly known as “Decoration Day,”

This Federal holiday commemorates the military and the lost of life, so they say.

Also, known as a time for picnics, barbecues, family, and friends.

It can also be a time, to our Father, for us to make amends.

Traditions include flying the U.S. flag at half-staff, from dawn until noon.

And, a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m., during Eastern Time tunes.

Some even celebrate by having a community parade.

Now, a three-day weekend, most of us think we now have it made.

But, the truth of the matter is, no form of commemoration is right or wrong.

Because Memorial Day is a holiday to be observed for lives lost and lives that continue to live on.

A Heartbreaking Reality

Dylan Christopher

July 26, 2006 to December 31, 2007

On December 24, 2007, Dylan stopped eating and drinking on his own. After trying to get him into Banfield Hospital, we ended up taking him to Hours Small Animal Emergency Clinic. There he was examined and we were told that he looked fine, with the exception of the draining in his left eye. They told us that it did not look like and infection and since he was not eating on his own, we should not administer antibiotics. Thus, insisted that we leave him there overnight so they could inject Vitamin C and start the critical care. When we got back home, they called to say that he was eating carrots, etc., and that the critical care worked.

On December 25, 2007, Dylan stopped eating and drinking again. We had a tough time giving him the critical care, thus we ended up taking him back to Emergency Clinic. They kept him overnight. We picked him up from the clinic around 7 a.m., on December 26, 2007 The vet told us they could not get him to eat and that his vitals were still good. They said that we should give him the critical care at 10cc (every four hours) or 15 cc (every six hours). They also showed up the proper way to administer it. My daughter and I gave him the Critical Care and he tried to eat some carrots and salad that I had put in the blender, since he could not seem to eat them whole.

On December 28, 2007, I took him to Banfield Hospital, where they told me that his bottom front teeth needed to be trimmed and they gave me ointment for his left eye, which still continued to drain. They also took some food from his mouth, which he did not swallow. They said that he should be fine. We went home and continued to administer the Critical Care, hoping that he would eat on his own.

On December 31, 2007, my daughter noticed that his left eye was protruding out of the socket. Again, I called the Emergency Clinic, since Banfield Hospital could not be reached. They told me to bring him back for another look. After the doctor looked at him, he told me that Dylan had a tumor was pushing the eye out of the socket. Dylan was deteriorating rapidly and surgery, additional tests, x-rays, etc., would cost close to $1200. He said that even with all this, his prognosis was not good and the eye could not be saved. His recommendation: Euthanasia. Thus, after talking with Crystal, who was inconsolable, we decided on Euthanasia. Dylan expired between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on New Years Eve. We left the hospital with our hearts on our sleeves. No words could express how we felt. But in my heart, I knew it was for the best. Now, Dylan would suffer no more.

At first, I didn’t think it would be so hard but losing Dylan hurt so badly. Even though he was just a guinea pig, he was like family. I cried for days on end. So did Crystal. So did my mom. In the back of our minds, we kept thinking about what might have gone wrong. To this day, a part of me still feels guilty because I made that horrible decision. Dylan was a wonderful pet and he did not deserve to die. I also think my mom took it the hardest because she was home with him during the day. He was like a good friend who kept her company and listened when no one else would.

Eventually, Crystal opted for another guinea pig (female, this time) but nothing and no one could replace Dylan in our hearts. Soon it will be a year since his untimely death. We still look at his pictures and reminisce about his cute and, at times, funny antics. Dylan, we hope you’ve found peace and that you are now in guinea pig heaven. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about you. Rest-in-Peace, Dylan. Just remember, we’ll always love you!

A Bit of History: “Candid Camera”

"Candid Camera" was a long-running CBS television series, created and produced by Allen Funt, which began on radio as "Candid Microphone" on June 28, 1947. This concept later came to television on August 10, 1948. The show continued on network, syndicated, or cable television as a regular show or a series of specials. Funt hosted or co-hosted almost all TV versions, until he had a stroke in 1993. Ths show involved concealed cameras, filming ordinary people being confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props, such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car with a hidden extra gas tank. When the joke was revealed, victims were told the show's famous catch phrase, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera." The show also played its hidden camera pranks on celebrities. One fine example is actress, Ann Jillian. Now, Ms. Jillian, who is Lithuanian, was scheduled to make a small donation to a Lithuanian charity. When police officers informed her a con artist was behind the charity, they convinced her to donate a much larger amount with the assurance that he would be arrested when he accepted the check. After the arrest attempt, Ms. Jillian was told the man was running a legitimate charity, a set-up that forced her into acting as though she had intended to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars all along.