9.29.2010

RIP Miss Cecily, aka Squeezlegoose

One of my favorite photos of Miss Cecily
She couldn't pick herself up from the floor. If I was able to help her onto her feet, she was at most able to take three steps before she was back on the ground again. I was helping her stand to drink water, to move around. Her eyes were still bright and alert, but the rest of her body was no longer willing to continue.  It was a hard decision, but in the end, it made sense to have her euthanized. I know, I know - for animals, the term is supposed to be "put down", but you know what? She'd become such a part of this family that I just can't use that term. My apologies to the purists.

Squeezlegoose doing the limbo under the
(supposed) anti-goose barriers for the dog beds.

Spouse said that I always doted on Miss Cecily, even when we first got her as a gosling. Something about the tilt of her eyes, her Very Small Tuft, her calm demeanor, her insistence on sleeping on the dogs' beds, always finding a way around or under any obstruction we'd put in place. How she and Godzilla were sweethearts, even though Tufted Romans are harem-minded by breed. And in the house: how she'd grunt in front of the refrigerator when she wanted greens, or would stand by the stove when she wanted her smoothie. Then how she'd tug on the hem of our shorts or pants, as if stamping her foot impatiently, while we got her food ready. And don't you dare forget to let her have her daily nap on your chest. If you missed the regular nap time, she'd stare you down with those beautiful, beady blue eyes until it felt like a laser piercing your skull. Must. Obey. The Squeezle.

Miss Cecily as a gosling, looking at Billy-Bob as if
to say "dude, you're doing it wrong..."
We're having her autopsied to see if some sense can be made of what she went through, in hopes it can help other birds in the future, and I'll be sure to post results here as well. We can't get her intact body back, but can get it back cremated, so that's what we'll do. Some have said that very few people would have gone to the lengths Spouse and I did to keep Miss Cecily going, in hopes she'd heal from this strange malady. I don't believe this makes us either heroes or fools - it's simply something we did for a beloved pet who gave so much to us. I daresay others would have done similar.

I found a bit of her goosedown on the floor today (amidst many other feathers, as she was going through her Fall molt). In time it will be put into the compost bin, like all things, even eventually our own sweet selves. For now, however, it's on my desk. I pick it up and give it a kiss now and then. Much love to you, Sensei Cecily, Guruji Goose. You taught me so much about life, illness and death. Sweet breezes and fair journeys.

16 comments:

  1. I must have missed a post or two, what happened to her Deborah?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Blessings to Miss Cecily on her journey and to you as well, who gave her a chance and a life she may not have otherwise known.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You and Spouse are some of the best people ever--you are treasures. I am so grateful you did so much for Miss Cecily. You taught me through that, and the value of the life you gave another creature is beyond measure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful post. I've felt like I knew her through your photography and words about her. May she fly high.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My heart is touched.
    I am sorry for your loss, yet happy for what you enjoyed and nurtured.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was just thinking about her yesterday afternoon, since you hadn't mentioned her recently, wondering how she was.

    Any thing or being that awakens compassion in us has done a great service. From that perspective, she was one hardworking goose.

    Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So sorry, Deborah. Hopefully - the tension in life from the obvious lingering in the back of your mind will come to some kind of peaceful resolve - and soon. If for no other reason - I'm sure she knew she was loved and was let go out of love.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sad news, but wonderful to hear how well Miss Cecily was taken care of.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm very sorry for your loss. Miss Cecily was a valiant goose, and well-loved.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you all so much for your kind words...

    @Mike: she contracted some mysterious wasting malady last Fall, and as of Spring we had her in the house trying to rehabilitate. Her body finally succumbed to the wasting.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had to wait a few weeks before i could red this having lost my 15yr old girl, Miss Pooper (a beagle). I always loved the pics of her napping on your chest, I thought that was the sweetest thing. She was certainly well loved and cared for and screw the purists euthanize it is.

    ReplyDelete

Of Mice and Various Snakes and new Duck Feed Station

As mentioned in the previous post, our region is experiencing a near-Biblical plague of mice. "It's due to all the moisture we had...