Tragic Loss to our Beloved Baby Goose!

[Baby Goose]

I would have never have guessed how this little baby touched my heart. I am sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks as I look at my baby's pictures and feel the pain of loosing him.

Baby Good died on Saturday morning February 3rd, 2007. After returning home from the grocery store our Goose was outside on the front porch awating our return to the car, when I reopened the front door all I saw was a huge bird fly off, feathers of my Goose and blood were everywhere.

He was gone. Lost at the hands of an unwelcomed intruder. My knees went weak, my hands trembled as I began to cry and hold my little daughters head as she began to cry at the site. My husband wrapped his arms around us and we sank into such sadness.

I miss the sounds of his coo, I dont hear his wings flap anymore while im in the shower as he looks to hang out above the curtain. I miss his waddle down the hallway and his instant flight to wherever the family is.

He was our baby Goose... Not quite yet a man. he snuggled with my hubby and was insistant on his "special time". Nothing could compare to the way we loved him.

I feel so lost as I write this message and my heart just aches for my sweet Baby Goose.

We love you so much!
your Mommy, your daddy, all your sisters and brothers, the doggies and even the fishies too. What will we ever do without you?

xoxox to our Baby Goose

[TAWhatley]

I'm so very, very sorry Baby Goose got taken by a predator. My heartfelt condolences to you and your entire family.

Terry

[mr squeaks]

I, too, add my heartfelt condolences about the loss of Baby Goose! I remember your previous postings.

I am so sorry! Comforting HUGS to ALL at this sad time!

Shi

[Feefo]

I am so very sorry, what a terrible thing to happen and for you to have witnessed too.

Your post briught tears to my eyes.

Cynthia

[pigeonmama]

I am so sad, and sorry over your loss of Baby Goose
Daryl

[Skyeking]

I'm so sorry very sorry to hear about the tragic loss of your precious bird.

PLEASE know that I am sending thoughts of prayers of comfort and peace. I know how horrible this must have been for you all to witness.

My heartfelt condolensces to you all at this very sad time.

[feralpigeon]

How tragic an event to come home to. I'm so sorry that you have lost your Baby Goose, I know you all must miss him very much. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

fp

[Lin Hansen]

I'm so sorry for your loss and that you had to see such a sight.

Sincere condolences to you and your family.

Linda

[Feather]

I am sorry for the loss of your special baby. It sounds as though he was really loved by alot of people and pets. His short little life was not in vain to have it so full of the very element that some humans search a lifetime for.

My heart goes out to you for your loss,

Feather

[maryjane]

I'm so very sorry about Baby Goose!! I'm just in tears too reading your post, what a terrible tragedy this is to lose him and so young. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this heart breaking time.

[Pete Jasinski]

Like Maryjane and the others my eyes welled up as I read your heartbreaking post. I'm so sorry your Baby Goose was taken away from you in such a horrible manner. I give my deepest sympathy to you and your family

[jazaroo]

I am just heart sicken by this tragic news, and my deepest sympathies and condolences go out to you and your family for your loss. May you find comfort in the the memories all of you hold in your heart of your beautiful Baby Goose.

Ron

[andinla]

for your loss. Sending hugs your way.

Andi

[Reti]

I am so sorry for your loss.

Reti

[Larry_Cologne]

I am so sorry to hear of the death of Baby Goose. I remember reading about him. It is sad too that you had to witness such an ending.

I often wonder, and think, that there is almost no way one wants to witness the death or disappearance of a favorite pet. If they are there a short time, we wish it could have been longer. If the pet has been with you a long, full lifetime, we are so used to the presence that we feel the emptiness even though we know it was time for departure or transition. If the pet -- and we can also include humans -- dies quickly from disease, we wish maybe it lasted a bit longer since something, some cure or treatment, may have been found and tried. If the pet suffers a long time before passing, we regret the suffering but know a full effort was put in, and yet would like for the pet to have had some more peaceful time before going. If the pet is attacked and dies quickly, we of course wish the pet had a chance for a longer life, and a more peaceful end, no matter how young or old the pet is.

And what is harder: knowing what the end, however tragic and final, was for your pet, or having him disappear and never seeing him again or knowing what happened? We had our Pidgiepoo chased off by crows in the middle winter, and know nothing of him since. Caught and eaten by raptors? Injured, lost, starved? Several elements were there: violence, fear, flight, disappearance, non-resolution. Take away any of these elements, and it is still painful. The passing of Pidgiepoo from our lives was painful, and still is. The passing of Baby Goose from your lives is painful, and painful for those of us who read about it.

One of my siblings once was crying because of a minor event: he missed out on dessert, a toy didn't function properly, he didn't get to go somewhere with the others, or something along those lines. My father told him to stop crying: he didn't know what pain was (maybe the word was "sadness"), therefore had no reason to cry.

I thought about what my father said. He thought my brother had no right to cry over what had happened. Had no right to feel sadness. A simple human emotion. True, my father, an only child, had experienced tragedy when he was very young and left without parents (details left out). He and my mother had lost infants. He was a military lawyer and judge advocate who dealt with the miseries of others which brings them to legal counsel and perhaps court. He was experienced with dealing with people when they are at their worst, or when they are experiencing the worst. He raised thirteen kids to adulthood. He had relatives with severe mental illnesses, and was looked to for guidance in dealing with them. He handled the legal affairs for most relatives and for many friends. Helped a young Vietnamese woman get free heart surgery in Texas. Helped war refugees immigrate by adopting them. Helped other immigrants. All pro bono. Visited tuberculosis sanatoriums (I waited in the car several times when the visits were short). So, he could say some things are important, significant, and some things are less so.

But my brother (or sister) was crying over something that seemed huge to him at the time, and I felt he had a right to his sadness or emotions, as much as anyone. We feel emotions, often extremely, regardless of the gravity of the situation or lack thereof. I didn't say anything to my father, but thought he was wrong, was not being "fair." Yet now, I think that my father's gruffness was the correct way for him to deal with the situation, because it was his way. He couldn't agree with my brother that yes, things were horribly wrong at the moment, that yes, he should wallow in tears with my brother and they both get muddy and red-eyed.

Many years ago someone described in Reader's Digest a family bond or tradition. One of the kids was crying because his cookie had crumbled, had broken. Presumably no replacements were available. The whole family gathered around him, made a big show of offering solace for his broken cookie, and stopped the flow of tears. Ever after, when someone in the family was upset, another would ask sympathetically, "Ohhh ... is your cookie broke?" Laughter usually followed. Things would fall into perspective. No matter how tragic, how painful, we survive almost everything, and the pain passes with time. (Even our own lives and deaths, no matter how long and pain-filled or painful, are alleviated at the end).

I've thought about this before, and I find it hard to say what an ideal death for me would be. A quick death? There are always minor, if not major, loose ends to tie up. Perhaps even the silly enters: I think the key to the back gate we were missing might have fallen behind the sofa cushions, or don't forget to drink the opened quart of milk in the refrigerator before it goes bad. Don't forget the beans, either. I don't want pain, but I want a warning of some kind. An Official message, an email? "You're going to die tomorrow afternoon at 3:45, quickly, with no pain." Probably not. Sounds ideal, but would I be convinced? Would it be a case of "Hey, I need something heavy to convince me!”

A long, slow, inevitable, certain ebb?

Whatever happens, I know it will be perfect. For me. Pre-arranged with loving care, by the one Who matters.

Death is individual, private. A dignified death is desirable.

If Baby Goose enjoyed life, then his life was full, complete, however long or however short. Hopefully, full of love.

With condolences and compassion,

Larry