About a month ago we discovered that Tucker, our 11-year-old Golden Retriever, had a tumor in his nasal passage. Unfortunately, it was cancerous. Fortunately, it was near the front of his nose and the vet felt like it could be taken out surgically. So, last Thursday he went under the knife for a three hour procedure and had the tumor completely removed - including plenty of margin, and his snout. Yep, my Golden Retriever doesn’t have a snout anymore… and yes, it looks nasty.
You know what? I don’t think Tucker cares. In fact, he hasn’t once mentioned how ugly he might look. I haven’t seen him Googling “plastic surgeons”. Heck, he hasn’t shown any insecurity about it – he’s still strutting through the neighborhood with his head held high (or low if there is cat poop anywhere). The only thing that seems to bug him right now is that awful cone strapped to his head.
Of course he doesn’t care. He’s loved, he gets fed twice a day, and he has a house to protect him from the elements. What else does one need? Well, if you ask a typical human and they answer openly, quite a bit. What we really need is perspective. Not perspective that comes from a tragedy – I don’t wish that for any of us. Perspective that comes from a dog. A chubby, not-too-bright, ball of affection with half a nose that’s sleeping about 18 inches from me as I type this.
There are plenty of logical responses to my implications above: “It’s easy to have perspective when you don’t have any bills to pay.” “He doesn’t know he had cancer.” “I’d be happy too if I just napped, ate, and played all day.” I realize these points and would probably be thinking them if I were reading this and not writing it.
However, the many layers of logic that have built our lack of perspective don’t take away this one simple truth: Tucker is happy because he has everything he needs. If you’re reading this, you probably have more than you need. I know I do. I’m going to remember my buddy running around the neighborhood all week with his cone bopping back and forth – full of joy and gratitude even though half his nose was just removed. I don’t know how long this lesson or perspective will stick with me, but I don’t care. I’m going to enjoy it now, and every time I look at that gorgeous, snoutless face.
