The Vicarious Vet

I have been told my whole life that I should have been a veterinarian. The only person that hasn't told me that was my high school chemistry teacher who I had to beg(and I mean BEG) for a passing grade so I could keep at least a B average to continue driving my car. It also didn't help that a good friend of mine that is a few years older than me and a whole lot smarter flunked out of vet school. And to be fair I am just not that ambitious. So I moved my wish onto my son, who is very smart and very ambitious. I thought I had a pretty good shot with him because he loves animals as much as I do and excelled in all the sciences. I pictured in my mind him becoming a vet and me working in his office. I pushed pretty hard but he chose people over animals and is now in graduate school studying molecular biology and doing medical research along with his lovely girlfriend at the University of Colorado. I told you he was smart...and I couldn't be more proud.
I have always been fascinated with veterinary medicine and although I do whatever I can myself I do enjoy taking my animals to the vet. It's better than shopping. As long as it's not too serious, then it's not so good, but that's rare since I try to be proactive and use good management with my critters. Anyway, I always learn something new and usually come home with something to doctor up my animals with. I always did love to play doctor and I love my vet. He is practical while staying up on the latest things and he respects my knowledge. I still remember the day he got his first ultrasound machine. I had a Sheltie that was due to have puppies and he wanted to try out his new toy on my very pregnant girl. He asked me if I would let him give her an ultrasound, free of charge, so he could check it out. I told him sure if he would let me go back and watch. So we went into the back room where the machine was set up and put Grace on the table with her tummy exposed. The vet tech. shaved her belly and we proceeded to wave the magic wand on her only to see one humongous puppy. One! And I had 4 already sold. I was a bit distracted and as I picked Grace up to leave my foot got caught on the electrical cord that was draped across the room and sent that ultrasound machine almost crashing to the floor. If it hadn't been for the doctor's quick reflexes my bill would have been seriously higher. I wonder if he ever lets owners in to watch anymore?
I am also a huge fan of James Herriot. I have all his books and read them to my son as he grew up. They are truly laugh out loud before it was LOL. One time my son had an assignment to write to his favorite author and he chose Dr. Herriot. He wrote to him only to get a letter from his publisher saying that Dr. Herriot was too ill to answer any letters. Shortly after that we heard that he had died. Hubby came home to his wife and son crying their eyes out. He said,"Oh my gosh, what happened?" We howled, "James Herriot died."
It has left a bit of a hole in my life. But I think I have found a way to fill the void thanks to a comment left on my last post from "I need orange" sending me to a blog called Vet On The Edge that is very James Herriot like. It is funny.....and you know how much I like funny and it is about veterinary medicine.....and now you know how much I like that....and it is from Alaska where my Grandpa lived.....which reminds me of another story. When I was a child my grandpa lived in Alaska. I heard stories of his dogsled and was so excited to travel to Alaska to visit him. I didn't say a word to anyone how excited I was to get to go out with Grandpa on the dogsled. Imagine my disappointment when I got there and he had traded his dogsled for a snow machine (that's Alaskan for snowmobile). I have never gotten over it.
Anyway check out this vet's blog my friends, but grab a cup of coffee or tea and be prepared to spend some time reading about the adventures of a vet on the edge.
I give this blog a two thumbs up. I plan to live vicariously through her.