ixchel (alicia) and i have formed a wonderful connection and we are even skyping regularly. we are helping each other through the crashing waves. her husband, danny, is also a gem. what a great guy and wonderful support for ixchel! they adopted a little kitten this past weekend. all completely unplanned. they were at petco and ixchel saw the tip of a tail from a cat in the adoption area that reminded her of tristan's tail. next thing they knew, they were going home with this tiny, sweet little peep, who is so much like tristan in both looks and behavior. this has helped a lot to ease the intense pain from losing tristan. naturally we are wondering if this is tristan returning, or whether he is reaching out through this little peep. very interesting. this little one has already brought much healing!

i promised ixchel i would share some photos of endo, my gecko. he joined my family a few years ago, having previously lived with my daughter and originally belonged to her husband. he was not well cared for. i will never forget how his habitat reeked when my daughter finally relented and brought him to me. i knew very little about geckos at the time. she told me all i had to do was throw in crickets once in a while and when they died or were eaten, to get more. none of that sat well with me. the crickets were basically starved and dehydrated. now, the crickets live happily with endo until such time that they give their lives to nourish him. the rest of the time, they live in a habitat with real plants, plenty of water and a variety of foods to munch on. baby crickets are born all the time; i rarely have to buy any. i did stop at petco last night to get a few, as i had overlooked where they were hiding and thought endo was out except for a lone one i found running around. i am really shocked at the difference between the ones who were born and raised in endo's home and the ones from pet stores. the ones from pet stores are always starved and dehydrated. i bring a cricket carrier and have the associate put in some gelled water and food. they all immediately start eating and drinking. they are also always very pale in color, as opposed to glossy and dark. and they are very sluggish in comparison to the "home grown" crickets who have lightning fast reflexes. they live in these horrible plastic tubs, in overcrowded and dirty conditions. i can't stand it. it's almost like i feel i'm rescuing a few here and there...

in the last pic, he studied the mealworms for an eternity and was completely immobile except for a very occasional blink. then, all of the sudden, he had an Ah-ha moment and snagged a snack. silly boy!

Hi, Monique, thank you sharing with us how you and your precious companions are doing. It is NO surprise that Endo is thriving under you loving care and provision. He is so fortunate that you took him when you did. Reptiles - - as with every living creature - - are very sensitive to their environment and have unique health necessities in order to thrive.

Thank you for sharing with us that you and alicia (ixchel) and her husband are forming a strong bond of friendship helping each other through your grief journeys. This is one of the many reasons why this is a wonderful forum. What brings us together in times of great sorrow and crisis can also bring us together in lasting friendships.

I hope today, and every day, is treating you and your precious companions kindly, Monique, and that you and your precious fur family will have peaceful, blissful, and cozy evenings. Please know you and your precious companions are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how you and your precious companions are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

my sweet cale just went to be with God...

i can't breathe...

Dear Monique.

I am so sorry about Cale. Please know that I am here for you.

I wish I could take away your pain.

Hugs.

Lynette.

Hi, Monique, please permit me to add my sincerest sympathies in the physical loss of your beloved Cale. She seemed to be doing well as you shared with us in your most recent post. Please know we are here for you, and that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Monique.

Haven't heard from you in a couple days. Hope you are ok.

Lynette.

moon_beam and lynette,


thank you so much for your comfort and support.

i'm in my foxhole. just plainly sad, exhausted, angry, disillusioned, ... we fought the good fight for about a year. i'm completely spent from giving 1000% and losing my peep anyway.

cale went downhill very rapidly starting last thursday- i found her on the sunroom floor unable to get up. she rebounded somewhat, never completely, and slipped away monday after i got home from work. found her laying in a horrendous mess. for me, it was all too much, esp. the end. just indescribable at this time. the level of care was simply no longer humanly possible. thankfully, cale is now free from all that ailed her in the last year of her life.

i'm too exhausted to write more at this time. i feel like my shoulders and head are hunched down beyond repair.

So sorry Monique.

Hope tomorrow finds you feeling better.

Hugs.

Lynette

Hi, Monique, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing, and what happened with your beloved Cale. When our companions come into our lives and hearts they already know that we are imperfect beings with limited abilities - - we are not omnipotent - - we do not possess the skills to provide them immortality on this side of eternity. Yet knowing this they love us unconditionally and joyfully share their earthly journey with us - - giving to us the enduring gift of their eternal love. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers that you will know and feel Cale's thankfulness for everything you did for her during her earthly journey - - and that hopefully this will bring some peace and comfort to your heart, mind, and spirit.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi Monique.

Just checking in to see how you are doing. Have not heard from you in a bit. I hope you are doing ok. I know things are pretty tough right now and I know coming here sometimes is very painful.

I hope you're ok.

Lynette.