I had a new experience last night, one I hope to never repeat but fear I will.
I dug a grave for my son's gecko.
He (we assume it was a he, don't ask me why, I can't tell 'em apart) had been a little off the past week or so, not eating as much as usual but - according to the boy - had still been, well, voiding as normal. Mrs. G. noticed that the gecko had expired after tucking TheBoy into bed, and we broke the news to him the next morning. He took it much better than I expected, although I think he blames himself. We looked around to see if we could figure out what happened, and the most likely culprit is "impaction", which is a fancy way of saying that he ate too much sand, got bound up, and stopped eating.
TheBoy is crushed, and isn't sure if he wants another pet or not. Right now, we're letting him decide, although we're in agreement that if/when we do get another lizard that it be a "family" pet - rather than residing in TheBoy's room, we'll have it in a central location where everyone can help with the care and feeding. In retrospect, TheBoy might not have been ready for a pet that he had to care for all on his own. We all learned a lesson, and can only hope that in the short time he had with us, Mr. Gecko was a contented lizard and didn't suffer unduly.
So last night I dug a small grave out in the backyard. It's by a corner of the house, protected from the wind and located under the furnace exhaust (so it's nice and warm, plus the grass has been burned off from the exhaust). TheBoy lowered the small box into the hole, he said goodbye, and we both took a moment for quiet reflection. There is no truth to the rumors that I cried over a lizard, nope, not at all. If there were tears, they were for a young man who lost his pet and was feeling sad.
Rest in peace, Koko the Gecko.
That is all.
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10 comments:
It's always sad when a fellow reptile passes. :(
Good Night Koko, and God Bless.
So now do you have to pay MORE for your insurance?
Great life lesson. I bawled for 3 days after the death of our family dog. 13 years of faith protection and joy. What a great way for your son to learn and cope with the feelings of loss.
Rest In Pease Faithful Lizard and Friend.
Argie
It's interesting when you find out that a new experience for a child becomes new again as a parent. I think my children's, and now grandchildren's, heartbreaks affected me more than them.
"and the most likely culprit is "impaction", which is a fancy way of saying that he ate too much sand, got bound up, and stopped eating."
Are you certain the gecko was not named "Elvis"?
Shootin' Buddy
Sorry about that.
It sucks.
Been there with my boyz.
Condolences to you and TheBoy. It always hurts to see your kid cry.
Wait until you have to put a bullet into one of your kids' furry critters (or one of your own, if you haven't yet). Necessary, & I think more merciful than making it die in the sterile environment of a vet's office, but it can be awfully hard.
Strength, brother.
I'm so sorry, Jay. For all of you. :(
"Cosmic upheaval is not so moving as a little child pondering the death of a sparrow in the corner of a barn."
I know nothing about the author of this quote (Anouk Aimee) but she is certainly correct.
arg, I wish I had known you were keeping it on sand... I would have steered you away from it. Paper towels are the best for juvie leos, with an upgrade to paper-based substrate once they're adults. I feel your son's pain. I just lost all three of mine due to a parasite I couldn't eliminate.
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