5/16/24

 I am glad tomorrow is Friday. This week has been long. Today I had one of my leadership meetings. The topic was “difficult discussions” it was quite useful with a non-accusatory approach to talking about things that suck. It has been one of the most useful things we have learned yet.

I am thankful that we moved Avery home today. She will be here until Saturday. Then she moves back into the dorms to start her summer research project. Yup! Stupid they didn’t let her stay.

We moved her back after work this evening and it was a family affair.  Even her friend was there helping too.

When we got home, Avery and I worked on grooming the rabbit as he had a fecal catastrophic event and needed to be shaved. His ding dong (that is a scientific word) glands were crusty and needed a good cleaning as well. He is a messy boy. 

Then Paul came in and told me that there was a chipmunk that fell out of the tree and broke its back and was flailing around in the back yard. I wish I hadn’t known.

I was consumed with how would I feel in that situation. Alone, significantly injured and preparing to go into a cool evening. Something was going to eat it or it was going to dehydrate and die a slow death. I didn’t want the poor thing to suffer.

Unfortunately, Ethan overheard everything and wanted to go see it. He was questioning whether we could “save” it. I did a neurologic exam and it didn’t have any pedal sensation or reflexes in its hind quarters. It started to heave itself around just dragging its lower half.

“We can’t save this one.” I said to him. What kind of life would that be for the poor thing? Ethan spent a few minutes petting it and talking to it. I told Ethan it was time for him to go into the house. He told me to make sure it felt calmed and soothed.

The little critter had a swift death. After he was deceased, I buried him and added a flower to his little grave. I was crying my eyes out. That was absolutely traumatic and horrific for me. I was having trouble breathing as I was sobbing over this stupid chipmunk. I don’t even like chipmunks! They move too fast for my liking.

It ruined my evening. I just had a heavy heart. I was glad to know that it was very quick. Just the way I want to go.

Also, today is day 7 of my camel bite. It is starting to get itchy. The colors are fading away as it heals. Darn! I will miss my conversation piece. 

After Ethan and I shared a good cry over the sweet baby chipmunk, all 4 of us congregated on our porch. We were just enjoying each other’s company and laughing at the dogs. 

Penny is going berserk because I am packing the camper. She is pumped! All the dogs are excited about me doing things IN the camper. It’s cute. But Penny is turning herself inside out with excitement.