I smelled him a few days ago, and was afraid he was injured or dead near
by.  I searched, but found nothing.  And then, I just forgot the
malodorous air.
 
Tonight, I stepped out onto the porch.  I looked across the lake, feeling
melancholy in the early autumn air.
 
I miss you Baby.  My Wolf.  Trembling Tiger.  Sweet and funny Chewy- a
ferrets ferret.  And my dear old man.
 
I came out in my pajamas, with Lovely fast asleep in my arms and sat in
the lawn chair.  The crickets swelled in chorus, and the tall grasses by
the waters edge bent with the occasional weight of another animal passing
through.
 
Then-my new neighbor appeared!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Pretty thing-running like a rocking horse with both front legs hitting at
the same time,and then the rear.  Bounce-ity-bounce.
Bounce-ity-bounce.The white stripe and thick bushed tail in the moonlight
revealed this perky creature to my sheer delight.
 
A fox lay dead just off the road on the grass this morning, and stunned
me with sadness.  One of the members of the family here is dead.
 
But here is my new neighbor-just as pretty as could be.  And sooo
aromatic.  The cats trotted back from the water to sit next to me.  and
Lovely woke up to sniff the air.
 
That is your cousin, honey.  Almost smells as pretty as you I whispered
as I kissed a lovely nose.
 
Chewy dies, and Waldo comes home with me from the shelter.  Cheyenne
dies, and a banded racing pigeon sits next to the garbage can, looking up
at me for help.  too weak to move.  in he comes.  My latest outdoor
rescue.  My fox family loses a member.  And tonight, my new skunky
neighbor makes a dashing appearance.
 
Life is so filled with change.  Part of that change is death.
 
I miss you babies.  If you all came back alive, I would not have the room
to care for everyone.  But I miss you.  I work on accepting change every
day.  This circle of life leaves you hangin upside down sometimes.  But I
don't have any fear of death that I can feel.
 
I will either be wrong in my beliefs and be dust, and not know it.  Or we
will all be together again where there is space for us all.
 
Lisette
[Posted in FML issue 3909]