Sad News...
Dear Friends,
Tuesday afternoon, 10/21/2003, my newest
bunny, Odysseus, husband of Athena, passed away during a routine tooth
exam to grind down his molar spurs, where he was put under. His heart
stopped unexpectedly after his vital signs showed he was fine. It was
very sudden, but he was probably an elderly bun.
We were never sure of his age, but he was
most likely between 8 and 11 years old. He was even developing
cataracts and arthritis. He might have had a heart condition too. Last
spring, the vet provided every health test imaginable, quite costly,
and he received a clean bill of health - for an older bunny. But there
were uncertainties even after the tests.
He lived a charmed nine months with us
nonetheless. He had the best of everything. The best food (tons of
fresh greens twice a day and the best hay), the best home, two
litterboxes, completely free-roaming the house day and night, a doting
BunnyMommy (me), daily massages, and most importantly, daily kisses
from his most beautiful and loving wife, Athena.
Athena is quite sad, but handling it better
than expected. I've been giving her much, much loving and lots of
banana. I've even bunny-proofed our bedroom and welcomed Athena in
anytime of the day (a real treat for her). She has been sleeping with
us and hopping around on our bed - usually waking us up around 5am by
pouncing on our chests. (Sweetness!)
The last two days have been very
heart-wrenching for me (eyes all puffy!). Especially yesterday when
Athena kept looking up from petting when there was the slightest noise
- hoping to see Odysseus come around the corner, I'm sure. However, we
took her to see his body on Tuesday at the vet, so she senses on some
level that she was not abandoned.
Last night, we layed sweet Odysseus to rest
at the farm rescue where we got him (formerly PigHoppers). The
memorial went well - very hard to take, but well. In our hearts and
minds, Odysseus kept urging us to be happy, to celebrate his life, and
to celebrate our own.
Athena is getting the royal bunny-pampering
treatment and is enjoying it. This is how we are honoring the memory
of Odysseus - by trying to experience as much pleasure as we can in
the present circumstances.
Odysseus would have wanted us to be happy for
his life, not sad for his death. As I mentioned to my husband last
night, if Ody saw us crying and wailing like we have been, he would
have run up to us, given us a good bite on the leg to bruise, grunted,
and hopped away kicking his legs out intolerantly. He was the most
charming and debonair gentlebun, with the sweetest manner I have ever
seen - and he always knew when to give us nips.
He will always be remembered and will live in
our hearts and minds forever.
Lapinly Yours,
Amy, Robert, & Athena Bunnybutt Nasir |
