Philosophia

Charlotte Joan Sternberg (American, 1920–2003)

"The Last Chore", 1953.

Egg Tempera on Panel, 23.8 × 30.1 cm.

This was Daisy, my parents perfect chocolate lab who helped raise Walter who was rescued from a farm at 6 weeks old. She was 17 or 18 here, and had mostly lost the use of her legs due to hip issues, but was mentally sharp still.

In the last part of her life I carried her in and outside every day, as well as up and down stairs for changes of scenery. I fed her and bathed her, trying to keep her happy. I became precisely tuned to the sound of her old bark and came running when I heard it.

It was not much different than caring for sick humans as I would do years later. I love pictures of Daisy but don't always look at this one because the world is so sad. Sad in the past, sad now, and sad in the future. Your love for things becomes unbearable and there's nowhere to go with it.