The most precious dogs in the world

Funeral arrangements are a blessing in disguise. But one can only take so much of them. So many choices (even though my mom was pretty detailed in her testament). And it's so...morbid.

I need a mental break every now and then. So I've been working on organizing the dogs' trip to Scotland to live with me. It may be crazy, but it's what I need to do. I can't give them up to a stranger.

It seems like organizing a visit on the moon complete with dinner reception for the Queen may be easier than getting these dogs to the edge of Europe. Britain has replaced the quarantine with a serious blood-test-and-vaccinations scheme, which is way more humane, and my mom thankfully started it a year ago in an attempt at some anthropomorphic heritage travel for the dogs.

Still, that leaves the actual flights. The amount of misinformation out there is amazing. I've had airlines tell me that they can gets the dogs through the health check at Heathrow for a connecting flight to Scotland in 20 minutes, which is plain wrong, simply because the animal centre at the airport is like 10 miles from the passenger terminal, so that makes me think they don't know what they're doing. I've called pet travel agencies advertising the relocation from anywhere to anywhere only to have them tell me they only serve X airport.

I finally found a way and am making my bookings and it's going to cost a shitload of money, but who cares. They've been such a help, getting me out of the house, staying with me day and night. I think they'll do well in Scotland.

I consider the research that went into organizing this feat a bigger accomplishment than my 70-gazillion-page prelim lists. Shhh, don't tell my committee. And it's oddly (or not so oddly) satisfying.

Thank you for the outpouring of your support. It's almost banal to say I couldn't stand this situation without it, but it's true.