In Praise of Irresponsibility

Gee, I hope I don't really believe that title, but... I've been troubled by the thought (obviously) that Cassie is likely to die early. I'm troubled because, as much as we knew how, we did everything possible for her medical care over her life. Annual physicals. Yes. Blood work. Yes. Shots on schedule. Yes. Special food for her health. Yes. Exercise. Yes. Care and attention. Yes. Regular cleaning. Yes. Efforts to avoid stress. Yes. You name it, we did it. About the most irresponsible thing we've done is this. We bought a tube of doggie toothpaste and toothbrush, but have only used it a dozen or so times. That literally is the limit of our irresponsibility. And yet, she's dying ahead of schedule, ahead of her breed peers. And it's got me thinking about being less responsible myself. More cookies. More naps. More junk food. All of it. Why not, if our mortality is at least as determined randomly (or by god, if you prefer) than by our responsible actions.