I AM WRITING THIS NOTE on April 21. One day before we have to send this May issue to the printer.
My Editor’s Note is always the last thing I write because by this point, I’ve got the full picture of how the entire issue has shaped up and writing this note is usually easy.
But April 21 is also my best boy’s Gotcha Day. He was an owner surrender during COVID and I was only supposed to spoil this scared, underweight baby until life returned to normal. But my life was never going to be normal again. I adopted him during a very rough time. The roughest. I know COVID was very hard for very many but for me it was a blessing. It allowed me to disappear for a time and heal from some unrelated trauma. And foster failing Jet was a huge part of that healing.
It is not hyperbole to say I am as healthy and happy as I am today because I let a terrified, malnourished, heartbroken pup into my life. We truly rescued each other.
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Since I adopted him, I don’t know his actual birthday and doctors estimated him to be about 10 years old at the time, so I’ve always celebrated his Gotcha Day as his birthday and today he turns 16.
But tomorrow, I have to let him go.
He developed a degenerative neurological disorder last year and we can no longer manage his pain effectively. It is very hard, and weird, to make the decision to end the life of something you love so much. That has brought you such joy and comfort and beauty. Something that saved you.
Six years ago I let my love for this dog start to heal me and now that love needs to end his pain. So please forgive me for departing from my usual upbeat Editor’s Notes. This issue really does have a lot of great content — I’m particularly proud of the Next Generation of Optical Leaders initiative we’re announcing (p. 42) — but I am sad and this is the best I can muster at the moment.
Give the ones you love a little extra love for me after you read this and come back next month when I am back to our regularly scheduled programing.
Best wishes for your business … and your fur babies,
Five Smart Tips From This Issue
- Forget collecting pennies, try an idea piggybank instead. Manager’s To Do, page 18
- May is our kid’s issue. Catch up on the latest styles for your littlest customers. Eye/Sunglasses, page 32
- Think you can multitask? Well we have some bad news for you and your partial attention. Tip Sheet, page 46
- This issue might be our youth issue, but we also appreciate “old souls.” This Florida optical created a nostalgic brand rooted in vintage design and old-world charm. Brand Portfolio, page 52
- The David Yurman collection may have been short-lived, but thanks to this RI optical its influence lives on. America’s Finest, page 58
