In My Own Voice, at last...

 

Last night, one of the most faithful and helpful
readers of our blog expressed (not for the first time)
that I write in First Person.
I set up another blog, called
"Honeyantdreaming"
for that but haven't written much on it, preferring
instead to let the piggies speak here and to write
on matters spiritual and engaging for the 
Times of India's "Speaking Tree" section on
spirituality,  kinda  how the New York Times has
Travel, Entertainment, Arts & Leisure, etc.
except in India they value Spirituality and include
that as an integral part of their own cultural news reporting.
Between writing, photographing the piggies, drawing,
and playing with the piggies, taking care of them
and myself, I've kept pretty busy.

And I am ill. But everyone already knows that.
And it's just a part of life I really don't think much about.

Except for one tiny, itty bitty problem: I live alone.
And doctors, social workers, physical therapists 
(I am a "fall risk") and occupational therapists aren't
crazy about that.

It isn't for lack of an abundance of wonderful friends.
I'm infinitely blessed in that department...it's just that
in my youth I travelled so much they are spread across
the country and now, through Molly the Owl, Guinea
Pigging, and writing with the Times of India, the world.

Edwin, my near and dear one of over 20 years lives 
90 miles south of here in Seattle, has taken both the
cats, but for good reason simply cannot come up for
caregiving any more than I could go down there if he
needed me.

Which brings me to YOU. You. And why Spirituality
mean so much to me: because of YOU.

I worry about two things: not being able to live alone
at home, although I have adapted to it and the place
is now outfitted with all the handicapped aids
I need to take care of myself. 
(Just need to be able to get to them.)

More than that is "Can I care for the piggies during these
acute episodes of some kind of infection that went undiagnosed
forever, can I keep their cages clean, water bottles clean and full,
food bowls full, hay bins full, enjoy lap time with them, let them
play together on Runabouts, and keep things as normal as 
Possible?" Moving my low bed from the bedroom into the 
living room adjacent to their cages has made a huge difference
in the HAPPINESS OF ALL OF US!
THEY POPCORN MORE, HOP AND JUMP AND INTERACT
NOT ONLY WITH ONE ANOTHER BUT WITH ME EVEN 
WHEN I AM LYING NEAR-MOTIONLESS IN BED 
(gnawing loudly on things, then looking up to see if I have
noticed...) They are smart and may initiate their assault gently,
but if they don't get their way, they will start knocking things
over and banging their heavy ceramic food bowls together
(don't ask me how!) then escalate until I get up and ask
the redundant: "Are you hungry, babies, do you want love?"
It's amazing!

For quite some time, we have enjoyed the
generosity of anonymous $ benefactors 
who have allowed us to purchase the largest,
most well-made "Habitats" and numerous
other additions to create a beautiful space
for us all to live.

But now that I have become too weak to do
laundry (and it is the bane of every piggie
steward: What kind of litter or flooring
is best for them?) new friends I actually
met through Molly the Owl and who I never
had the good fortune of getting to know very
well unexpectedly gifted us Very Special flooring 
which will be custom manufactured by our dear
Jen at Jen's Custom Crafts (whose link appears
beneath "Blogs We Read") and these floors are
going to revolutionize EVERYTHING from me having to do much, MUCH less cage cleaning, 
to never having to buy litter of any kind again
(a waste on Mother Earth when thrown out) and
will remove the guilt I feel lying in bed knowing
their cages really could use a good cleaning.
Following this first compassionate gesture,
two other friends and then my friend's sister
(who I don't know at all!) chipped in to 
enable us to ALSO install their new flooring
system in the Rabbit Pen adjacent to Peter-Peanut and Bhindi's habitat!
 (Peter considers himself a Gold-Medal winning Olympic horse-jumper who adores running sprints from the rabbit pen before launching himself into the air & over the lined ramps dividing their different living spaces.)
If I am a "fall risk" Peter is a "flight risk!":)
Well, I would like to write a WHOLE LOT
MORE ABOUT THIS but just bonked and
must turn in...

Why this post? Because during this challenging
time for all of us, LOVE CAME IN THE FORM
OF GUARDIAN ANGELS AND THIS IS REAL
STUFF, REAL LIFE STUFF, REAL LIFE-SAVING STUFF BOTH FOR THE GUINEA PIGS AND FOR ME (and my feeling that there
is always more I could and should be doing.)
We have had a constant benefactor whose
generosity we never expected. Now, in crisis
again, an entire entourage of Guardian Angels
have appeared to ease the suffering and that is
what we need to share with our readers:
We live in world so torn up with tragedy and
divisive hatred for one another.
But here at PandaPig's Peace Sanctuary, please
join us in celebrating the unasked appearance of pure, selfless Service, (called "seva" in India), 
compassion, empathy, caring, generosity,
and Divine Love reaching beyond kith and kin
to a sick person desperately trying to care for
unwanted creatures whom the world abandoned.

Tomorrow, when I go to the doctor and she asks
the inevitable question I shudder to think about,
"Do you have friends who can help you?"
I CAN SAY "YES."
AND I WILL.

THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
BUT YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY
KNOW HOW PROFOUND A 
DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE
MADE IN OUR LIVES.

And for that, words fall short.

Love,
Chana, YumYum, Vinny-Guinea,
Bhindi, and Peter-Peanut.

(P.S. if possible, we will produce a 2013
calendar and section at Cafe Press so
stay tuned. Actually, I wouldn't hold 
your breath because I'll probably forget.
But...we got plans, baby, BIG PLANS!)

seva = selfless service
sevadars =  those who perform 
selfless service with no thought
of reward...

Thank you, friends and sevadars.
We wish you rewards of love,
knowing that despite all the strife
in this crazy, mixed-up world,
you have actually made a difference!

~