Monday, December 27, 2021

Milliron Monday: The Year in Review

Milliron Clinic. 2021.


Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017), including his wife Jody (1938-2021). 

“On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through
 confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, 
that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's 
life also, in our own, to the world.”
 —Henry David Thoreau

The year is winding down, the clock seems closer to our rapture. World events show signs of future change. Moving forward, what will 2022 bring? I could overthink this. But, instead, a review of 2021 may be more appropriate. 

January and February of 2021 are a blur. I don't remember doing much of anything special (except taxes). In March, tired of lockdown, events and visits seemed to pick up. Jody and I traveled to Fernwood Farm in March. In April, we were going to meet at the barn. The meeting never happened. She was concerned that the anesthesia from her 2020 heart surgery affected her memory, and it did. 

We lost Jody on Mother's Day, in MayI was at the barn when I learned of Jody's passing. White-throated swallows were building nests in the high rafters; tufts of hay, piece by piece, neatly placed to create a sturdy nest. Barn cats watched each pass and swoop. There was no wind and the sky was flint gray, ready for the new Pisces moon. A neighbor was hammering, the thud thud was annoying. The world needed to stop, if just for a moment.   

June through November swam by. Meeting with Jessica and friends to sort through Jody's saved memories took several months. In December, we celebrated with a trip to John Hutchison's farm and a wagon ride. 

Looking ahead, there is much to share. Stacked on my desk are Jody's journals. They reveal that a veterinarian's wife faced many challenges. Besides journals, there are short stories from Jody's high school and college days. We will be sharing all of these with you in 2022.

Praying 2022 brings joy and wellness to you and your family.

Yei’i’bi cheii time. Nich’i hozhoodooleel.
WE ARE BLESSED AGAIN WITH THE GLORIOUS WINTER BLESSINGS….

May the prayers they sing bring blessings upon you and your family.

May the Holy People give you all good things.
Navajo Blessing

Happy New Year!

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

 

No comments:

This Week @ Monday Creek: History and Cosmos

  The Ides of March came and went without much ado. Falling on the 15 th of March, it was a significant date in ancient Rome. It gained not...