THE OLD MAN AND A GOAT

Dorothy is dead. She was a goat. A wonderfully sweet, affectionate creature. She was old. She first came to our farm in 2000 or 2001 and we don't know how old she was then; probably two or three. She was a Toggenburg and an excellent milker. In  her prime she milked a gallon a day. A very easy milker; she had good sized equipment and you could milk her with your whole hand like a cow. She wasn't one of these two or three finger milkers.

A sad event, but expected. Dorothy didn't look good going into the Winter. There was nothing obvious wrong, but she lacked the vim and vigor she usually displayed. Wednesday, she acted like she didn't want to or couldn't get up. One could discern that she was laying in one spot for quite awhile. I helped her up and she drank a great quantity of water. She seemed okay. Thursday, she was again laying down. I helped her up and she began munching hay. Again she seemed okay. Yesterday, I tried to help her up and she complained. She couldn't get to feet. I attempted to get her outside to the water bucket. She laid down outside but wouldn't budge. Later on, I noticed, she moved back into the barn. She was laying in a comfortable position and appeared peaceful.

This morning she was dead. I gave her a toboggan ride out to the far reaches of the pasture and laid her
out against the fence. I took her collar and bell off, thanked her, and said my goodbyes.

I have been a participant in this cycle of life many times. I don't know how many old sheep, goats or chickens I have said goodbye to. The experience keeps your feet to the ground in a way that I can't quite describe. I know there is wisdom here.

Some of you might have read Carlos Castaneda's books. The first is titled: THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN: A YAQUI WAY OF KNOWLEDGE. In one of his books, Don Juan instructs one of his pupils, to live life knowing it is an illusion, but at the same time, live in the moment and take it absolutely seriously. One must recognize that life is our collective and individual creation; that it is how we form energy into matter through perception. However, it is not to be discounted because it is an illusion, every moment must be lived with purpose.

Our purpose is love.

Love and Peace, Gregg