Men Cry Too

Results from numerous studies reveal that men cry more often at the death of their beloved pet than almost all other events in their respective life's including deaths of family members, close friends, and the birth of their children. Certainly I can be included in those studies as I unapologetically shed many tears upon the passing of Erin. To mourn and shed a tear over the passing of a long-time friend is to acknowledge the value and enrichment the animal brought into the relationship, they ask for little in return but give unconditional love and friendship until their last breath.  As a male I feel there is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about as we grieve the loss of a beloved pal. The bond between a man and animal can run very deep and is not easily untangled upon death, many emotions can complicate the process so it's more common for men to cry than in past years when it was deemed as a sign of weakness or not a masculine trait.

Humans are often responsible for every aspect of a pet's life from the litter to the grave hence death is a difficult pill to swallow; every past decision regarding the animal's welfare is dissected and analyzed in every way possible. On a personal level, from the day Erin was taken from her mother's side to the moment she stopped breathing it was my decisions that shaped her life and influenced her health hence the amount of years upon this earth and that's the crux of it all... a dog's life and fate lie solely in the hands of their human friend. From dog food to social playmates to which veterinarian is frequented every option is scrutinized to determine if more time could be spent among the living and we all feel guilty that our beloved pets were let down in some fashion. Everything was sacrificed in hopes of giving Erin the life that few other dogs have experienced and while I'm content for the most part; many tears have been released in thinking that her lifespan was shortened due to a poor decision I made.

In the wake of Erin's passing more men than I'm able to recall have confessed their own stories of sorrow and tears upon the death of a pet, it's certainly not a sign of weakness and I actually regard it as a honorable trait; to connect with and to remember such creatures with tears is the ultimate tribute. It seems a million tears have flowed since my own decent into hell began and while I expect to show an outward form of loss for the remainder of my days it's obvious the frequency of tearful sessions are lessening as the days go by. In the beginning it was impossible to get through a day without several mournful wailing periods and no doubt many folks were alarmed at the sight of me appearing in public with blood-shot eyes, moisture laden cheeks, and a stream of tears but it didn't matter as nothing did but to mourn and survive the ordeal. Those times of sobbing uncontrollably are certainly dwindling as the pain is being replaced with memories of love and friendship but I have no qualms of sobbing if needed and I absolutely refuse to allow anyone else to dictate when and how I can grieve.

If you spot me shedding a few tears don't be alarmed as I'm remembering the greatest friend one would ever have....

“Tears are words the heart can't express”