R.I.P. Norty

Catharsis Norty I received the call last night from my sobbing daughter.  Sobbing daughter whom I couldn't readily understand, but which immediately enveloped me in a sense of dread and panic.  You know.  Eventually I understood that she was saying, "Dad, we just put Norton down."  What? We just put Morton down.  We were playing with the dogs and Jimmy noticed Norton's gums were all gray.  Norton seemed okay, but he took him to the vet. After their daughter, Boxers Mabel and Norton are the dearest members of their immediate family,  It seems Norton had ruptured something internally, and it was unrepairable.  Norton was still wagging his tail while Lula-Mae held him, as the vet administered Obamacare.  It was dreadful.  I've been there; You've been there.  Might have have been a cat, a goldfish or a parakeet, but you know.  But it was not Lula-Mae, Jimi, nor the little Princess.  I feel dreadful for them; but I am also so very grateful. Thank you God. No more calls like that in my lifetime, though.  Please.