Our Tapestry…

Animals have always been a part of our lives. Dogs and cats were a constant part of our childhoods, and now as adults, we can add horses, goats, donkeys, parrots, chickens, and recently a bearded dragon. Future plans include some Scottish Highlander cattle, Baby Doll sheep, and perhaps an Alpaca or two. I wouldn’t be surprised if a pig entered the picture at some point. For some, animals are just pets, and they come and go through their lives with little to no fanfare. But for most, these critters become much more than just pets. They become family. There is no place that this is more true than here on the Farm. Each new arrival brings excitement and joy, with a healthy dose of upheaval as the new member struggles to find it’s place within the Family. It usually doesn’t take long for things to settle down each time, and soon we are all laughing, playing, connecting, eating, and even snuggling together.  It’s a gift from the Universe, this dance between us all.  The Man and I cherish every day we have with our “children”, for we know all too well that those days are limited.  My Gracie’s graying face reminds me of that every day.  Their departure is inevitable, and the more animals a person shares their life with, the more often they are faced with tearful goodbyes and the sadness and mourning that follows.  One would almost think that these goodbyes should get easier or that the grieving should lesson over time.  Although the Man might appear to have better control over his grieving process than I do, it never gets easier for either one of us. Today marks the one year anniversary of the day that we said goodbye to Kody, and even as I put these words to paper, the tears well up, and the pain is as fresh as it was that day. Everyday I visit his grave, sometimes surrounded by our other dogs or with the Man, but most often by myself.  It’s my time to say hello, to make sure he knows that he hasn’t been forgotten, and that he is still very much a part of life on the Farm.  Of all the many threads in the tapestry that the Man and I weave into our life here on the Farm, Kody remains the strongest thread of them all.  He was the first, and all that have come after have been bound to him in one way or another. There have been many other goodbyes over the years.  Some were beloved cats, like Toby, Trouble, Bert and Ellie.  Last week, we said goodbye to Chester, a beautiful black Himalayan, rescued from the roadside after his mother had been hit by a car.  Even losing Harriet the chicken a few days ago filled me with sadness.  Yes, just a chicken, but my chicken nonetheless, and I did my best to nurse her back to health even though her outlook was grim.  Rudy the goat had a very special place in my heart, partly because he wasn’t very bright, and partly because he was devoted to me, and followed me around like a puppy dog.  His leaving was sudden and unexpected, and I cried like a baby as he passed away in my arms.  Despite all of the heartache when they say goodbye, the love and affection they give us while they are here is immeasurable, and we find ourselves opening our doors to them every time with little hesitation. That’s what we do.  We welcome, we love, we say goodbye.  And soon after, another thread is added to the tapestry…and we love again…