adjusting
September 24, 2008 l 3 Comments
The day after Rex died, I cleaned out my room and the pets’ closet. There were the obvious things to get rid of: bags of rabbit food, a bale of hay, and his old bedding. The cardboard castle would have to go, too. The cats didn’t seem to have much use for it without Rex around.
But the closet was still full of items that I not only wasn’t using, but may never use again. An old rabbit cage. A couple of hamster cages. A bin full of mouse wheels and Habitrail tunnels. Dog dishes. Water bottles. Small animal carriers. Who was I kidding? Just as I’d been mentally preparing myself for Rex’s eventual passing, I’d also been preparing myself for the reality that no more pets would be entering this household anytime soon. I need to close that chapter of my life for awhile.
So all of it went. Everything that wasn’t needed for the cats was piled into my car, filling the trunk and the back seat (and the passenger seat, too), and then donated went to the local Humane Society.
The intended purpose of clearing out all that stuff was not to rid myself of reminders of Rex, which is fine, because it really didn’t work out that way. I still look down from my bed every morning, expecting to see a rabbit. I still pause before placing something down on my floor, considering the likelihood that it might get chewed. I still find myself heading in to feed Rex dinner every night, right before I go to feed the cats. I still find it strange to walk into my room without having to shut a baby gate. I still have to remember that I don’t have a rabbit anymore.
Adjusting is hard.
So I guess we’re not much of a domestic ‘zoo’ anymore, though I’m keeping the name. It sounds a lot better than ‘Confessions of a Crazy Cat Lady’.
Goodbye, Rex
September 16, 2008 l 2 Comments
(March 13, 1999 – September 15, 2008)
I took this photo just a few weeks ago. It’s not quite the last one I ever took of you, but I think it works. It’s just…you, Rex. Always on the go. Always doing your own thing. You knew who you were and what you wanted, and you could be both amazingly smart and incredibly persistent. And of course, you usually got your way.
We were wrapped around your tiny bunny paw for almost ten years, Rex. You were king of the household. When Peanut died last year, we worried about you so much. We thought you might not be the same, but there you were, living life to the max as usual. And even on your last day, you seemed to handle things on your own terms. I wish I had known, Rex. One day you were here, you were happy, you were healthy.
Today you were a quickly fading star, gone before I truly realized what was happening. You’ve left a bunny-shaped hole in all of our hearts, Mr. Man, and you know, the cats just aren’t going to know what to do with themselves now that you’re gone. Who will chase them out of your bed? Who will they stalk at three in the morning?
Who will be our bunny king?
Goodbye, Rex. This room is a lonelier place without you, but you and Peanut are together now, and forever. We love you both so much.
Love,
your family
and now we come to the end
September 15, 2008 l 4 Comments
Rex is binkying with Peanut at the Rainbow Bridge.
We love you, little man. And we’ll miss you a lot.
the resting place
August 16, 2008 l 1 Comment
Our spot in the woods, to sit and remember…
Happy Birthday, Peanut
June 4, 2008 l 3 Comments
My dearest angel bunny -
You would have been eight years old today. It’s been almost nine months since you left, but we still miss you so much.
You were and are the incomparable Mighty Pea.
With love from your human family, and nose rubs from Rex.
a Christmas gift
December 27, 2007 l 3 Comments
from my little sister:
we are still here
November 21, 2007 l 2 Comments
Life became very crazy, very quickly. I’m off from school for the next few days and I’m hoping that things will have the chance to settle down.
Chuck joined Martin at the Bridge last Tuesday. It was not unexpected, but I didn’t have the heart to post about it at the time. Now both of the Mousey Boys have joined Peanut, Beeper and Millie in our little pet cemetery. We have gone from nine pets to five pets in a little over a month. I’ll be just fine if things stay as they are for awhile.
John shared with me this very sweet story: Kittens ‘adopted’ by pet rabbit
I wish I had more photos of when the kittens were little, but unfortunately my computer crashed a couple years ago and I lost most of them. Peanut and Rex were just wonderful with them, affectionate, caring, and most of all, exceedingly patient.
rest in peace
November 5, 2007 l 3 Comments
Martin the Warrior (August ’05 – November ’07)
we still would live no other way
October 20, 2007 l 1 Comment
First, I want to say Thank You to John, Linda, Kh. Michelle, Tamara, and the many others of you out there in internet land who have taken the time to say a kind word and offer support during this time. It has certainly been a difficult few weeks for our family.
Today I logged on to my flickr page to see a wonderfully touching comment someone had left on Peanut’s photo:
Peanut continues to touch people. Folks you don’t even know have shed tears with you….we saw your love for this bundle of fur…we experienced care. Bless you all.
~ ~ ~
“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives
even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle,
easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan.”
- Irving Townsend
Beeper has joined Peanut at the Bridge
October 17, 2007 l 4 Comments
~ * ~
She passed away this evening surrounded by her family. We have lost our oldest and longest companion, and once more our hearts are heavy.
