Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com • page 26 I have noticed lately that there is this undefined line of human observation that incorporates our mortality. People that have stepped across that line have a clear view of life and who they are. But most often it takes extremely drastic conditions to make us coherent of this inevitable perspective. My friend Rogan called a few days ago and told me he had a HUGE favor to ask of me. Rogan has been my friend for years and I no problem accepting that favor, even before I knew what it might be. "I have a precious friend that is in a horrible battle with aggressive cancer. He is a veterinarian in a town south of here and he has read your book many times and reads it to people that come to visit him. He has been battling this disease for several years and the enormity of that battle is getting to him. I know it is a lot to ask, but would you mind going with me to see him? I think it would be so good for him to meet you and good for you too, to hear him tell his stories of being a veterinarian. He is a great story teller and I think you two would hit it off. He has been wanting to meet you every since he read "Crowded in the Middle of Nowhere." Wow! The town is 2.5 hours away and the thought of meeting a person with such overwhelming problems scared me to death. I was silent for just a moment and then easily said, "Sure, I can go Sunday after church." We met in Big Spring and headed south together in his truck. Rogan filled me in on the situation as we drove, and I felt the butterflies gathering in my stomach as I considered the magnitude of life and mortality. I never considered when I put together the words that make up the book, "Crowded in the Middle on Nowhere" that it would lead to a situation like this. But I felt blessed that the book had perhaps made a difference in person that was facing such devastating conditions. I had no idea what to expect. I wondered what all had gone through this veterinarian's mind over the last few years as he faced his mortality and wrestled with physical and mental torment and pain. I felt totally unqualified to be in his presence and intimidated by the wisdom and knowledge he must have gained in a battle that I could not even imagine. He greeted us at the door in a bathrobe and pushing a walker. Rogan's wife had arrived before us and met us at the door just behind Ross. Dr. Dutton shook my hand after he hugged Rogan and his smile penetrated the edge of my curiosity. "This is Bo Brock, Ross", Rogan said as I was shaking his hand and admiring the sincerity of his smile. Suddenly Ross's face took on a puzzled, yet deeper smile, and he said, "oh my, it is so wonderful to see you, I think we may have met once before but I didn't recognize you." Which really means, you got fat Bo. After a few minutes of small talk we finally all fell into comfortable chairs and began talking. For the next three hours I scarcely said a word. I listened intently to him tell of his career and his disease and my admiration for him grew with each passing paragraph. I was moved to tears many times and laughed deeply and out loud as I admired his gift of story telling. I wondered over and over how he could be so incredibly happy and amazingly giving after years of suffering and mental torture. The stories of his health issues included many mentions of times when the physicians told his wife that he would never come out of anesthesia and there was no hope. Yet, here he was, making me laugh and happy and amazed. I had come here to try my best to make Ross smile, only to find, it was him imparting all the joy. I hated to leave. I found myself wanting to hear more of his wisdom and ask him a thousand questions about life and what was important. I wanted to pull every nugget of wisdom that suffering and subsequent acceptance had given him. I had spent 2.5 hours of driving time dreading what I might see when I arrived there only to find it was me that needed pity, not Ross Dutton. As we stood up to say our goodbye's, I noticed his reading material on the lampstand next to his chair. Books of faith and love. Prayers and strength. I was taking this environment in with every bit of perception and perspective I could summons. I was totally moved by my time with Ross. When the moment first arrived, I felt flattered that an extremely sick person liked my book enough to want to meet me. But when I walked down his driveway to get in the truck and leave, I realized, it was me that gained the most from this visit. I have nothing to offer a man that has gained a perspective from the other side. PERSPECTIVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE by BO BROCK, DVM, DABVP "Every person that is born has an expiration date, it is printed on them just like a gallon of milk. The problem is, they never consider looking at it until the day someone tells them they have to." —Ross Dutton

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