Friday, March 10, 2006
Life And Death
We went to South Carolina today for the funeral of Andrew's Uncle Kenny. Kenny was much too young to die, just in his early 60's, but he had many health problems. I suppose we are lucky to have had the two-week break since Andrew's grandmother's death. There had been a real scare that Kenny would die on the day of Grandmother Stroupe's funeral. That would have been simply too much.
Kenny served in the military and was a disabled veteran with a purple heart, among other awards. He had a military funeral with honor guard, guns fired in his honor, and taps played. As the honor guard folded the US flag that covered his coffin, they dropped three spent bullets into the middle of the flag - one for duty, one for honor, one for country. It was very moving.
One of the special things about a military funeral is that you feel not only that you are attending the funeral of one person, but you feel like you are at once attending the funeral of many, many men and women who served our country. You are both appreciative of and saddened by the skill that the honor guard displays in the execution of their duties. You know that they have had far too much practice.
Kenny was a very patriotic man and a history buff. He would have been pleased, I think, with the military funeral, the red, white & blue flowers, and the picture of him as a man-child, handsome and young in his uniform.
We drove home with death on our minds. I thought about the step children and wondered how it will be for us when our parents die. I thought about Kenny's widow and wondered, just for a brief second, how I could ever stand to lose Andrew.
Then, in Charlotte, we were in traffic for an hour and twenty minutes. Finally we passed a tractor trailer that had taken out a great deal of guard rail and overturned. The cab looked like it had burned. I told Andrew I didn't see how the driver could have survived. It was yet another reminder that life could be over at any second.
But later, on the drive home, my thoughts turned to picking up the children at Mom & Dad's and checking on my rabbits. I have several does due tomorrow. Two looked so huge, I couldn't imagine that they would possibly wait until tomorrow.
And I was right. Katee had her last litter for me (before she is auctioned at Nationals). There were five in the next box and two on the wire. She doesn't normally have babies on the wire. It looked like she had them close to the front of the box. They were squirmy, noisy things, so they may have just wiggled off onto the wire.
In any case, they were cold, but moving a lot, so I put them next to my skin and brought them in the house. I filled a gallon-sized ziplock bag half full of very warm water while Sarah put a small towel into the dryer. I put the babies on their heated "waterbed" and covered them with the warm towel. They are on the kitchen counter right now, surrounded by boxes to keep them in place, covered now by a second warm towel. I think they have a good chance of making it. If they do, I will have seven last Katee babies. Perhaps my last Katee grand champion was born tonight.
And that is the wonderful thing about being a rabbit breeder. There is always a looking forward. There is always something to get excited about. There is always potential and possibility. There is always hope.
So even when life gets me down or I need to spend a day contemplating the most serious issues of life and death, I always have my rabbits to inspire me, give me relief from the realities of life, and give me hope that something special is always just around the corner.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:13 PM
Kenny served in the military and was a disabled veteran with a purple heart, among other awards. He had a military funeral with honor guard, guns fired in his honor, and taps played. As the honor guard folded the US flag that covered his coffin, they dropped three spent bullets into the middle of the flag - one for duty, one for honor, one for country. It was very moving.
One of the special things about a military funeral is that you feel not only that you are attending the funeral of one person, but you feel like you are at once attending the funeral of many, many men and women who served our country. You are both appreciative of and saddened by the skill that the honor guard displays in the execution of their duties. You know that they have had far too much practice.
Kenny was a very patriotic man and a history buff. He would have been pleased, I think, with the military funeral, the red, white & blue flowers, and the picture of him as a man-child, handsome and young in his uniform.
We drove home with death on our minds. I thought about the step children and wondered how it will be for us when our parents die. I thought about Kenny's widow and wondered, just for a brief second, how I could ever stand to lose Andrew.
Then, in Charlotte, we were in traffic for an hour and twenty minutes. Finally we passed a tractor trailer that had taken out a great deal of guard rail and overturned. The cab looked like it had burned. I told Andrew I didn't see how the driver could have survived. It was yet another reminder that life could be over at any second.
But later, on the drive home, my thoughts turned to picking up the children at Mom & Dad's and checking on my rabbits. I have several does due tomorrow. Two looked so huge, I couldn't imagine that they would possibly wait until tomorrow.
And I was right. Katee had her last litter for me (before she is auctioned at Nationals). There were five in the next box and two on the wire. She doesn't normally have babies on the wire. It looked like she had them close to the front of the box. They were squirmy, noisy things, so they may have just wiggled off onto the wire.
In any case, they were cold, but moving a lot, so I put them next to my skin and brought them in the house. I filled a gallon-sized ziplock bag half full of very warm water while Sarah put a small towel into the dryer. I put the babies on their heated "waterbed" and covered them with the warm towel. They are on the kitchen counter right now, surrounded by boxes to keep them in place, covered now by a second warm towel. I think they have a good chance of making it. If they do, I will have seven last Katee babies. Perhaps my last Katee grand champion was born tonight.
And that is the wonderful thing about being a rabbit breeder. There is always a looking forward. There is always something to get excited about. There is always potential and possibility. There is always hope.
So even when life gets me down or I need to spend a day contemplating the most serious issues of life and death, I always have my rabbits to inspire me, give me relief from the realities of life, and give me hope that something special is always just around the corner.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun ¶ 10:13 PM
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Laurie,
I am once again sorry for your loss in the family, and it must really be hard on andrew losing two family members in one month has to be pretty upsetting. But I completely agree with you on the fact that having rabbits and specifically hollands inspires people so much and really makes an incredible difference in my outlook on things.
Sorry for your loss,I hope andrew is doing better though.
Your friend
Peter
I am once again sorry for your loss in the family, and it must really be hard on andrew losing two family members in one month has to be pretty upsetting. But I completely agree with you on the fact that having rabbits and specifically hollands inspires people so much and really makes an incredible difference in my outlook on things.
Sorry for your loss,I hope andrew is doing better though.
Your friend
Peter
# posted by 
: 11:48 PM
: 11:48 PM
I didn't know about your second heart break. I am sorry and please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Candace
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