David Escorts Liz Across the Rainbow Bridge

I fed Liz about 6 pm, then had to drive down to Buckhead last night (thank you Nancy, for loaning me your truck AGAIN) to pick up a Barred owl that was hitch hiking a ride from Juliet with a biologist who was giving a lecture at the Blue Heron Preserve on Roswell Rd. (Very cool place…the last little bit of peace along the insanity of Roswell Road…check it out). After the lecture, I met up with a great friend and supporter of HawkTalk, Bruce from Marietta, because he had rescued a juvenile Red-tailed hawk after a car crash in Smyrna earlier in the day.

I guess it was about 10:30p by the time I returned home. I didn’t do anything with the RTHA because he wasn’t dehydrated and he’s just about broken in two and I didn’t want to further stress him out. The Barred owl needed attention however, because I knew his car crash was three days ago and had received no food or water while the Good Samaritan desperately called around to get him some help. Thankfully, Jim Ozier, the biologist who gave him a lift, helped me give him fluids on the spot last night before his talk. (I need to take advantage of an extra pair of hands whenever possible and it’s a lot easier to give fluids with four hands than two). I thawed out some mice for our Barred friend and it only took him a hot second to figure out what’s what. So, he had a full tummy and settled in for the night.

I administered another tube feeding to Liz about 11:30, then staggered off to bed. For those of you who know me, I was 3+ hours PAST my bedtime at that point! I slept until about 4 and got up to discover that Liz had slipped away. I regret that I missed her passing as it is customary for me to hold them next to me during their transition; not so much for them, but for me, so that I might absorb a little of their spirit in their crossing. Sad as I am, at least I know that she died in a warm crate with a full tummy and with as much dignity as she had in life, wild but not willful and beholden to no one.

Thank you all so much for your good wishes and for those of you who dug down deep and helped us with some Mouse Money…m.

David says, “Come on Liz! I’ll show you across the Rainbow Bridge! You’ll like it here!”

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond's glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

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