Rites of Passage…

There once was a rabbit named Oreo and a guinea pig named Qupid…

They were a physical part of this extended family until recently; when both passed-on quite unexpectedly and within a few days of each other.

Their life and passing a paradox; between the love and companionship exchanged daily with the girls and their painful loss, bringing with it a yet unrecognized release from the endless reminders about duties and responsibilities of caring for their pets now no longer necessary.

These were “rescue” animals… they were unique, loved well and will be missed by the girls; especially during those times when there’s a need for deep secrets to be shared, when nothing but a private intimate cuddle with them can soothe the heart, when the night is too quiet and the mind too restless to be useful.

I’m not a “pet person” but, I willed the acceptance of these animals’ usefulness because of the creative cases the girls persistently made, which led me to think this may be one way a young heart could learn about dualities; fun(?) and responsibility, love and apathy, happiness and sorrow, life and death…. a way for them to experience the rites-of-passage that many “adults” have yet to fully synthesize.

The experience; witnessing my daughter’s traverse joy, aggravation, love and the pain of departure in a full un-disguised manner as kids do; to emerge from it with their aching hearts intact, still caring and strengthened by the process, is well worth the duress of having too many breathing “things” under one roof.

As a steadfast proponent of “natural habitats for animals, houses for people”, I now think that there is a time and a place for “house pets”; when animals become living bridges that relate how caring knows neither bounds nor limitations, how we – all species – seek to connect in a positive way and need this as the air we breathe.

There once was a rabbit named Oreo and a guinea pig named Qupid… their lives mattered and made a difference.