Tried to nurse an injured mouse back to health over the past couple days. It died, and I couldn’t help but think of this. The end of this strip has stuck with me for almost 25 years.
Interesting that Hobbes doesn't say anything in this strip. Sometimes when someone doesn't know what to say to a friend that's grieving, it's good enough to just be there while they grieve.
A few years ago I was working for a veterinarian. One day I came in to find two tiny kittens in a box by the door. One still had part of its umbilical cord so they were newborns and I suspect the box started out with more than two. My wife and I spent several days nursing them and I was able to take them to work and watch them which is about as ideal a situation one could hope for. They still didn't make it. They died in our hands and I drank myself into a ridiculous stupor that night. I ended up burying them in the backyard and this comic came to mind. It's always been a favorite of mine.
thesongofstorms on June 7th, 2018 at 18:42 UTC »
Love this one.
It made me think of this one that Watterson drew when his cat, Sprite, passed away. She was frequently the model for Hobbes (see his foot note).
SillyGatz on June 7th, 2018 at 19:00 UTC »
Interesting that Hobbes doesn't say anything in this strip. Sometimes when someone doesn't know what to say to a friend that's grieving, it's good enough to just be there while they grieve.
nathanfromtexas on June 7th, 2018 at 19:00 UTC »
A few years ago I was working for a veterinarian. One day I came in to find two tiny kittens in a box by the door. One still had part of its umbilical cord so they were newborns and I suspect the box started out with more than two. My wife and I spent several days nursing them and I was able to take them to work and watch them which is about as ideal a situation one could hope for. They still didn't make it. They died in our hands and I drank myself into a ridiculous stupor that night. I ended up burying them in the backyard and this comic came to mind. It's always been a favorite of mine.
Sorry for your pain, OP.