Everet

 

Everet

Everet has been in our family since I was in fifth grade. He moved at least five times since living with us and who knows how many moves he had before my parents took him in. We know very little about his past, but he had had major surgery removing internal organs before he moved into our house on Crabtree Lane. I didn’t really appreciate Everet until I was older. He annoyed me with his off key voice, he seemed very old-school and sort of unrelenting with his demands towards perfection, and frankly was not a lot of fun to hang out with. However, as the oldest child, it was my responsibility to be Everet’s caretaker after my parents could no longer care for him. He tried to be a part of my children’s lives, but they had no interest in spending time with him. Everet has a finished room in the basement where he spends all his free time. He does not say much, nor does he eat much. He really is no trouble.  Unfortunately, he is near the end of his life. I’ve consulted several specialists and they say further surgery is too risky at his age. Fixing one problem would uncover bigger problems that cannot be solved. We have decided to stop consulting specialists and let Everet enjoy his final days hanging out in his favorite spot. He has had a good life and we will make sure to keep him safe and comfortable on his final journey. What I will most of all is his sweet music.

Dear Everet, you have been a good friend. In the words of Dylan Thomas, “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”