I guess it depends on your dad -- if you go to the hospital now, will it be a problem to leave? I mean, I think it's reasonable to pop by for a bit but not commit to the whole day, but can imagine other people disagreeing.
It shouldn't be a problem to leave, but my complaint (because complaining is easier than worrying) is that it's a lot of running around to do.
And -- I realize this is really callous to say -- he goes to the hospital so damn much and I am SO tired of going over there. I have so much to do today, and I know, I KNOW, that it's callous and uncaring to be all "I have WORK to do; I cannot come sit with you in the hospital!" But I *do* have work to do, and a sick dog to take to the vet, and he's just going to get tests run, he's not actively having a heart attack.
I'm just being callous and selfish because I'm so tired of this. And I do have a lot of work to do.
(Also, I thought it was going to turn out that your father and dog have the same thing wrong with them -- I guess that could still happen?)
Hey, I could bring the dog to the hospital! Two birds, one stone.
My dad and my dogs have had very similar knee surgeries.
Perhaps I am callous and strange, but I don't see anything selfish about working and taking care of a sick dog. He's a grownup; he can watch television or read a book.
Take care of the dog and work; it's like asking my husband to take off work when I went to the hospital to get a mammo. Wouldn't have occurred to me. I mean, fuck, I drove myself to the ER when I was having a kidney stone attack, called him later.
Teppy, if he is not in immediate danger, go to the vet and get some work done.
Dang, Tep, that is a lot for one day. Taking care of your own stuff does not seem callous and selfish to me, fwtw.
I forgot to bring my assortment of glasses to work so I am stuck with working on the computer with normal distance glasses. We'll see how this goes, I guess. I can always go home at lunch to get the right glasses if I need to.
Steph, your dad can reach out for help if he needs it. And he and his doctor have initiated the process of getting him the care he (possibly) needs. Your dog does not have that option. I'd take care of the dog first.
And I was the first call for my dad for about a year and a half while he was dying from lymphoma, so I totally get the whole, "Hospital? Again? Damnit," feeling. I loved him dearly, but still. It doesn't make you callous, it make you human. There's only so often that worry spot in your brain can be hit before it has to offload stress onto other areas.
Also - 17! Wow, way to go, Harvey. Keep it up sweet kitty.
