The first week of July, 2014 was a real corker. A life ended, a new life began and a life transition happened all in a few days.
First, my four-footed friend Gypsy Rose shuffled off her mortal coil on Wednesday. She was a fiesty 11 1/2 year old Cavalier King Charles spaniel who shared a whole lotta love and affection with her folks - my human friends Jane and Dana and another spaniel Gracie. Gyps was never the healthiest animal - she was retired from breeding at the age of five with a heart problem. She was deaf. She had to have all (but one) of her teeth extracted. Which meant her tongue lolled crookedly out the right side of her face. She never learned how to ‘play’, but she could make you smile with a wag of her gorgeous fringy tail and look straight through you with those soulful eyes. R.I.P. to the happy little traveller who brought joy to everyone she touched.
On the very same day, I went with another friend to pick up her newly adopted cat at a vet clinic in Guelph. Pat has been sans feline friend for more than a year, since Bobbi, a Manx cross, died at the ripe old cat-age of 17. After about six months, I started pitching for her to take in a shelter kitty - though Pat might say it was more badgering than pitching. Anyway, Alice-Anne (Anna was her shelter name) is now playing and eating and purring her way around Pat’s bungalow. She is one truly lucky little tuxedo. Pat’s pretty lucky, too.
Last but certainly not least, my niece Rachel graduated high school. Friday was prom day, and the farmette was the backdrop for much picture-taking. We had a perfect day, and we made a meal out of the event - literally. The whole family came for ribs on the barbie (from West Grey Premium, of course) and a leafy salad freshly pulled from the garden. Rachel and her boyfriend Jesse cleaned up pretty well. Actually, they looked stunning. But she, like her aunt, is an animal lover. So, in all her finery, she could not resist getting down and personal for a beauty shot with her buddy Maya.
So the cycle continues down at the farmette, accompanied by the spirit of those gone but not forgotten, the joy of new beginnings, and the excitement of change.