When life turns on a dime ...

Life is precarious. We all know this, but we often forget it until reminded.

Yesterday morning, my colleague and good friend got a telephone call from his wife at her office, informing him that a neighbor had spotted flames at their house, and had called 911. He and his wife both raced home. Both their boys were safely at school, so that was not a worry. But the fire had apparently burned for nearly two hours without detection, so the house was pretty much a total loss.

But the newspaper this morning captured the worst part: "House fire kills pet dog."

Glacier the husky was in his crate when the fire erupted. He died from the intense smoke and heat. I refuse to picture this in my mind. The family is distraught, especially the two boys, aged 7 and 5. They can rebuild the house, and get more "stuff." But Glacier is gone forever. Or at least in this life.

Dogs, like people, should grow old and die in their beds. No one deserves to go this way.

I guess time and faith will heal these wounds. But I will think of Glacier for a long time.