Dear Shannon,
I just want to tell you about yesterday. It was a crazy day. First Louie, the alarm kitty, woke me at his usual 5:30 wanting his breakfast. I got up and filled his dishes but he only took two bites and meowed at me, making me follow him. I had no idea what was wrong. He sat between the other animals cages waiting until I fed them, and then he went back to eat his breakfast. I explained to him that I am not feeding crickets to Bentley and he would have to wait for Joey to get up. Louie accepted that explanation. Since you are gone, he seems to believe he is in charge and he needs to be sure everyone is fed. He has not been himself, I know that he knows what happened. But I keep explaining to him. He often sleeps on your spots in the house.
Both Joey and I and even Louie, were having that kind of an “off” day. We all wanted to just hide from the outside world. We were content to just sit, look at the computer and read. Laundry and such could wait for another day. We just didn’t have the motivation. Well, that was until, Joey got a little antsy. He told me he was taking a sketch he had, going for a drive and getting a tattoo consult. I thought…. hmmmmmm..
Now we know Joey has been talking about a tattoo for a long time. I know you had many beautiful ones and he wanted one and you always said he would never do it. I guess he found his motivation and as he left the house, I asked him to be careful. I am not worried about him, just that he isn’t himself. I worry about him driving alone, because his mind is elsewhere. I called Sara, “I know your brother is coming home with a tattoo.” Sara laughed. Sure enough an hour or so later he texted me that it hurt but he regretted nothing. Ha ha…. who knows their son?
He came home and uncovered it. Tears jumped to my eyes, it’s beautiful, Shannon. It’s hard to see because of lighting but it’s purple, your favorite color. And I love the phrasing, but what I love the most? He chose to use your birthdate, the day you started living…. you still live, we know that…. death has no power. You live, just not here, and we know that. We miss hearing your voice. I know you would love it.
Then the real fun started. Joey said we needed to clean up the animal cages. Okay, now, Shannon, we had an agreement when you moved in, I don’t mind feeding Louie, but I know nothing about these other critters. But I didn’t want Joey to do it alone, and I need to learn, in case he is out. You have this elaborate system that I still don’t get but they are immaculate so I want to learn. I got the hang of Eli, the Guinea pig, who tears up everything. He finally let me get my hand near him. I couldn’t catch him to get him out but he let me clean around him. I filled his water and Joey did his food. He whistled a little so I knew it was okay.
Then onto Gizzy, the rabbit, also okay. She even let me pick her up and snuggle her. Ever since you moved in, she had grunted when I touched her, but today she was sweet to me, she must know I am new at this. I picked her up, and even brushed her fur a bit. She got her food, and was happy and content.
But then it was Bentley, the bearded dragon. First, Joey got him out , into his harness and let him roam a bit. We took out all the stuff for the tank, cleaned it and Joey tried to capture the live crickets he had not eaten. That’s when the trouble started.
You see, while pulling up the tube, one came loose and jumped in your laundry basket. If you were here you would have been screaming, We searched everywhere and couldn’t find him. Now as much as you love these critters, you would have gone nuts about a loose cricket. We could hear him but not see him. We looked everywhere, both of us pouring sweat, under the bed, shaking the laundry, trying to move the others out to hear better. I didn’t want to tell you Shannon, because I know how upset you would be, but one day about two months ago one escaped that you didn’t realize. I found him in the bathroom chirping one night.
I knew how upset you would be so I didn’t tell you. I just scooped him into a plastic cup and set him free out the back door. Never told anyone until today.
Back to the story, we kept hearing him, looking everywhere, no luck. Then I went to move the dust buster and saw him in the tube. I quickly ran for the front door and opened it to shake him out.
But a loud car was coming down the road and it startled me, and I jumped, dropping the parts of the hand held vacuum over the railing. “Ummmm… Joey! We have a problem.” He asked what the big deal was because he didn’t know that I meant, like as in dropped behind the bushes where you can’t slide a sheet of paper. “Oh gosh….. well, we will figure it out,” he called. But I didn’t want to wait so I ran and got the broom and leaned over the railing trying to brush the parts to the lawn. I am short….envision our porch and the railing and the parts are on the ground. …. I nearly toppled over the railing several times trying to move it. I dropped the broom twice but luckily I could reach through the bars to get it.
I finally got the parts out of the bushes, and I washed them. I know how clean you keep things in regards to your pets. And you know that crazy cricket hoped up to the porch. “Forget it, you wanted out, you are free, good luck,” I called to him. Joey was still struggling to get the last of the live crickets in the tubes and back to their cage. Finally, after two hours of struggling, pouring buckets of sweat Bentley was cleaned up. His head is peeling again and Joey will give him and Gizzy a bath. We attached all the parts again but agreed it didn’t look as nice as when you do it. We attached the background paper and he seemed to like it.
Your mom called and invited us to go with them to her friend, Cathy’s house. But first we both needed a shower to cool off. It was a fun night of stories and giggles about your life, and now we had this silly one to share. I am sure you laughed so hard with that contagious laugh of yours at our antics. The animals have been very patient with us. They know you aren’t here and we are trying our best to take as good care of them as you would.
We both love you and miss you so much. I should have watched you more closely when you were here. The furry creatures got some fresh fruit and salad tonight and Bentley got his kale and carrots. The house is quiet… they do not whistle as much, they are sad too. But little by little we are trying.
Love you,
Mom #2
❤