I am grateful to Marcela García for writing about the anticipatory grief that comes with loving an elderly dog (“Everybody is watching ‘The Odyssey.’ I can’t,” Opinion, Aug. 1). Anticipatory grief is such a strong, common emotion when you love aging or sick people or pets, and yet I don’t think we talk about it enough. I often feel guilty when experiencing anticipatory grief, ashamed that I am wasting precious time with my loved ones worrying about what it will be like when they are gone rather than enjoying the present moment with them. But I think anticipatory grief can be an important reminder to embrace the now.
I hope that, rather than try not to think about her nearly 13-year-old yellow lab’s future death, García does go see Christopher Nolan’s movie “The Odyssey” after all, has a good cry over Odysseus’ dog, Argos, and then goes home and hugs Santo extra tight.
E.B. Bartels
Arlington
The writer is the author of “Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter.”