I have to preface this by saying my eldest dog (the bestest boy who has ever lived) is very unwell and is fading quickly. My family and I are devastated but are doing our best to keep him going while he’s not in too much discomfort. This has led to a difficult conversation about what we are going to do when his time comes. We have decided we can’t bear for him to be taken away to be cremated so have ordered him a beautiful wicker coffin which we will stow until the terrible day it is needed (some may be appalled by this but it’s taken 5 days to come and…well you get the picture).
it was delivered today. Lovely Eastern European driver who has been before, we have nice chats but English is not his first language so it’s a pretty basic conversation. He retrieved this enormous box from the back of the van which is covered in tape saying fragile. For reasons best known to the suppliers they have stuck a sheet of paper on the outside and in bold type written “caution pet coffin inside, please be careful” and highlighted it. He read this slowly out loud while passing it over the gate.
Driver: “ caution…pet…coffin…inside, please be careful” he looked at me stunned
Me (after reassuring him it was not occupied at the moment). “Yes it’s very sad but we thought we ought to be prepared”
Driver: “for him?” And looked horrified at my younger dog who was jumping up the gate with a tennis ball in his mouth wanting to play.
Me: (laughing trilly) “No! For my other dog, the older, bigger one”
Driver: “Oh yes, I remember him, I am sorry, he has passed?”
Me: “No”
Driver: “……”
Me: “…..”
Me (after uncomfortable pause) “it’s just that he’s very Ill and we want to bury him in something lovely”
Driver: “it’s good to be ummm…prepared?”
Me: “err yes, that’s what we thought”
Driver exited pretty sharpish, still looking a bit aghast. I stood there looking at this huge box feeling devastated. Called my husband out to move the box (don’t worry our old dog didn’t see it). I pointed out the note stuck to the side of the box and told him what had happened with the delivery driver and we both stood solemnly for a moment and then pissed ourselves laughing. Lightened the mood somewhat over a really sad time.