Not quite the reply I was hoping for :/

[Cali Mae]

So, I often send updates to Inge (Cali's breeder) and a few weeks ago, she mentioned that her husband was really sick and had lung cancer. I had sent her a reply about two weeks ago again, with no reply. Just today, I sent her another one telling her how Cali passed obedience classes and included a picture of her with her certificate. I also said I hoped her husband was doing better.

Inge replied about an hour later saying congratulations and that her husband passed away last Friday. It definitely wasn't the reply I was hoping for, she mentioned feeling really sad and alone. I know it probably didn't help much, but I expressed my sympathies and loaded the e-mail up with some more Cali pictures.

I felt kind of bad in a way mentioning her husband, but I guess there wasn't really a way for me to know. It just saddened me because I know they had no children and kept to themselves a lot, from what she told me.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

I know how you feel, but there was no way for you to know and it was the polite thing to do. I am sure she appreciated the extra Cali pictures, too. Does she live nearby? If she does a nice idea might be to do some cooking and baking for her and drop it off. I am sure she is struggling with the whole ordeal and it is so nice to have someone help you out.

If you aren't close by, maybe call up a nice restaurant who does delivery and pay for a few meals (so she can refrigerate them) to be delivered to her house.

ETA: I don't know what your relationship is with her and how close it is so it could be too pushy to send things if you aren't really friends, I just meant the food ideas as suggestions if you felt that you wanted to do something for her

 

[Renee750il]

I'm sure it warmed her heart that you cared to ask about her husband.

 

[Xandra]

Agree with Tuck and Renee, if you hadn't asked she might have noticed. It's still so fresh that I'm sure you're not bringing up some distant bad memory... it's what she's living right now.

 

[Cali Mae]

No, unfortunately she lives a good four hours away. I wouldn't say we're too close, but I do send her updates fairly regularly so we talked a bit. I definitely might at least try sending a card or something. I was really hoping she'd reply saying he had improved though.