the ones we love

Oh my goodness has it been an emotional couple of weeks.

there have been some really sad things happening

stories of people having encounters with animals

that have sad endings

You sit there and read about what happened

and find the tears rolling down your face

and you sob for the pain and hurt

that has been felt

 sharing stories of these creatures

they have come in contact with

whether it be a  street cat

or a new born cygnet

or a baby bird in your garden

food and love and companionship are given lovingly and freely

you do everything you know how to do

and the end result is that

Nature steps in

and breaks your heart

big time

I feel for each of you 

 I have had my share of these wonderful encounters with animals too

I tend to step back now and not get involved

sounds harsh and mean

but I can't do it anymore

knowing the end result in most cases

of course that's what I say and think

until the next one comes along

Tammy....we had a wild cat for a while

my husband found it in the middle of the road one freezing cold night

on his way back from work

he brought it home and gave it a saucer of milk

and was surprised to find it still here the next morning!!!

we fed it and the kids played with it for a while

it wouldn't come very close to us so we made it a warm box and put the food out

it stayed in the garden and seemed to be happy

it grew and got all cute...

and we were getting ready to let it come inside and live with us

but it never made it

I won't say what happened one dark night

but it killed us having to tell the kids the next morning

Kim,

you know how I felt about Little One

and I know what it has done  to you

and

the rest of those who watched as you recorded the daily events of this tiny little thing are sad too

but what has happened now with the mama swan is just magical

but it doesn't take the pain away

it somehow makes it a little more bearable that she can share her loss with you!!

and Ruth

you poor thing

I was in tears yesterday reading about the little bird in your garden

knowing how hard you tried to help

and not being able to

know that you were fighting a losing battle

Nature separates those that won't make it

she knows and we don't

and that's when our humanity

gets trampled on and the pain of seeing it

is too much

you were there at the end and it wasn't alone

take comfort in that

I don't mean to be maudlin and dramatic

but our encounters with the animals of all kinds

can make us feel things we didn't know we could

the street cats in all the cities in all the world live and die alone

as do the strays in the woods and fields all over

it isn't until we encounter one of them that we know they are there

the wild birds that fly overhead don't mean much until you get up close and personal with

one

and discover birds have personalities and feelings too

and the nests that fill the trees and bushes

have life in them

and the chance to watch from a distance

and see the babies in the nest is just wonderful

it all starts and ends

all the time

and most people don't even notice

but a few do

the ones with wide open hearts at the ready

and

 in most cases it's all wonderful and happy

and then

there are the times

it isn't

and it's hard

and not fair

and it

STINKS

.....

you are all wonderful people

yes you are!!!!