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Blog entries | Anger
Anger and frustration have driven a lot of what I have written lately — spawned by a feeling of helplessness in trying to save our brain-damaged kitten, Loki.
Emotion can be an asset for a writer but emotion that turns to anger defeats logic and cohesive expression.
The anger manifested itself most often on Capitol Hill Blue, my political news web site, where I write a column called The Rant. Recent rants contained more vitriol than normal as I went out of my way to attack anything and everything.
Such an approach is counter-productive and, after a review by some other writers, editors and journalism profs I respect, I removed several columns from the database at Blue.
Obviously, I’m still having problems dealing with grief over the loss of Loki. I’m taking a break from writing about politics until I come to grip with his death.
Doug Thompson
April 16, 2006 at 6:22 am
Walt:
Thanks. As a recovering alcoholic, I’m very familiar with the prayer. It is a regular part of my life.
Doug
fred1st
April 16, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Three years ago, we were facing the inevitable last day of our companion of four years–not nearly enough time together, ended slowly over six months by a disease we never had a name for. Buster grew weaker and weaker, and was in so much pain toward the end that, unless we gave him very strong medicine, he could not stand. We saw it coming for an agonizingly long time, and finally took that last, longest trip to the vet on July 6. These endings don’t come easily, but we do find ways to go on, and love again. Tsuga will soon be three, and we can’t imagine our days here without him, and take not a one of them for granted. Death is, indeed, an enemy, and what better day to consider this than on Easter morning.
Elaine Kittredge
April 16, 2006 at 5:29 pm
I have been thinking about you for several days, not knowing what is happening but realizing I haven’t gotten your column in my inbox for awhile, and missing your rants, which I love. I believe your anger is healthy, but like me, I am struggling with a truly creative way to make a difference. I am in anguish, and a day at a time I continue to talk about what isn’t printed (except by you and buzzflash). Tyrannical dry drunks that are in critical positions are a bane to humanity, and we have to find a way to expose and hopefully remove them. The serenity prayer hasn’t helped me, but talking at meetings daily has. Although it isn’t a solution to the world’s problems, just my feelings about them, it has helped. My heart is with you.
Dusty
April 17, 2006 at 12:45 pm
We will miss your columns, er..rants over at CHB, but its totally understandable why your taking a break. Anger is the hardest emotion to deal with as previously pointed out. Take care of yourself Doug and we will see you when we see you since Grief has no timetable.
Walt Ludewig
April 16, 2006 at 3:39 am
Are you familiar with the full version of The Serenity Prayer?
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference..
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace..
Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it..
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will..
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next…”
I think the long version has more meaning—at least
for me it adds a much greater perspective..
Walt
Anne
April 16, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Doug I am so sorry about the death of your kitten. Pets give so much and ask so little in return. Our kitties have all had a few extra ear-scritches for Loki.
Peace
Anne,
Luis Lopez, NM
Leslie
April 16, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Anger is part of grief, and often the hardest to deal with. And so unexpected.
George & Sheila Taylor
April 18, 2006 at 12:50 am
Hello Doug,
I’m so sorry to hear of Loki’s passing.
We have been there and had to do what you did a number of times over the years with members of our cat family. And believe me when I say “family”! They are just like children to us!
So we really understand your pain.
We currently have 10 cats, and half of them are over 15 years of age.
One of our cats, “Beacher”, is up to 17 now and she has an inoperable cyst in her throat that is affecting her being able to eat. We had another cat that suffered the same fate. And, like you, we were forced to make the decision when the “quality of life” was gone. These decisions always leave us feeling pretty “hollow” for quite a while. It really hurts!
Like you, I’ve cried harder at losing one of my animals than I have for people. Strange, isn’t it. I don’t know how to explain it.
We have always been with our loved one when we had to put them down. A very painful experience, and extremely hard to do! But the only way we felt we could deal with it.
In the end, after some time passes, it makes it easier
to deal with things, knowing that we was there right up to the end.
When your ready, we’ll be waiting for your return to writing again. Right now just concentrate on getting “right” in your mind again.
God bless you, and your wife, as you recover from the loss that youall have experienced.
Regards,
George & Sheila
dusty
April 19, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Good to see your hiatus didn’t last long Doug
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