6.12.2010

June 12, 2010

White Dog and Steve looked in on those of us still sleeping before they headed to the Park at dawn. Milo was starting to awaken in the faux cave we had made of a storage tote and towels placed close to her friend, Quinn's blanket. Quinn, with his back against the "lizard den," was gently snoring. After the Park, White Dog (who had found something good to roll in) needed a bath before Milo could have her daily swim. After shaking water all over the bathroom, White Dog conceded the tub and Steve prepared the water for Milo.

Only it was not needed. Sometime between going to the Park and then, Milo had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He found her body in the cave but it no longer housed her indomitable spirit. Quinn still rested at her side, awake, but somehow unwilling to leave his friend.

Milo was an amazing lesson in tenacity. She refused her entire life to accept the disability of being three-legged. Often clumsy and awkward, the stubborn green Miss still leaped and climbed and propelled herself all over the house and into all kinds of mischief. In her younger years she often could be found by the books on the floor, knocked off of the shelves as she scaled our library walls in the Office. Milo's stump never stopped moving as though there was still a leg attached as she stretched (hanging from her back legs) and reached for things beyond her grasp. Often Milo miscalculated or attempted more than she could manage and she would crash to the floor or scramble and gain a toehold at just the last second but it never seemed to stop her from going after what she wanted with all her abilities and focus. In the bath, buoyed by the water, she was serpentine and gracefully as she swam in graceful "S" arcs. She was tough, a little thug sometimes in demanding her way. She became free-roaming after rubbing her nose raw in increasingly larger cages...once she was able to claim her own turf, once her demand was met, she stopped the obsessive behavior.

Years ago, when I took on the task of homeschooling a young boy falling through the cracks of the traditional education system, Milo was the agent of our initial bonding. Wyatt was fascinated by her and when I offered him her shed belly skin as a treasure, he became the best learner at "Sue School." Many of our lessons were driven by our iguana, including the incredible opportunity to witness her nesting and egg laying ritual. We turned our guest casita into a riverbed and watched the daily progress for weeks as she dug a den, readied the nest, carved the muddy earth with her claws, gave birth, and protected her clutch...and after, we dissected and studied the eggs under a microscope. These were lessons that made a lasting impact on a kid most everyone had given up on...and Milo was instrumental on exciting him about learning and discovering the world.

Milo was Steve and my last travelling companion who moved here from Chicago 14 years ago. None of our other family members (save Michael, now) understand talk of mosquitoes or humidity or it being so cold we needed to wrap a heating blanket around Milo's enclosure.

We are glad in the end that she found love and friendship with Quinn. As I type this, he lays on his blanket staring at her perch; he has already checked the tub several times looking for her. Michael is unsure of all this; yet another loss in his life. We all held each other and shed some tears as much for ourselves as for Milo. On the other side of the Rainbow Bridge Milo is now climbing (using all her limbs) into a large leafy tree that overhangs a cool swimming stream. The tree is loaded with overripe peaches, one of her favorite foods. At the base of the tree is already spread a colorful Navajo blanket for the future time when Quinn, her friend, and the rest of us join her.

Be happy and run free green girl, you are loved and will not be forgotten.

12 comments:

Coffee Talk with Shar said...

Milo found and amazing love within your family. A once-to-be discarded baby had the chance to live a wonderful, doded-upon life with you. Near her end on this level, she found a friendship and bond she probably never expected in her brother Quinn. We are SO sad for all of you, but also grateful that a beautiful little girl was part of such an amazing family - one we are proud to call our own.

We love you, and we grieve with you,

Kim, Shar, Prinnie, Digby and Atka

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Oh, we are so very sorry to read this. We so hoped Milo was going to be OK. But we have to smile when we think that at the end of her life, she had so much love to share, and TOWD can take great joy in knowing he shared a big part in that. Thanks to all of you for giving Milo the wonderful life she had.

Hugs and Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Teddy Bear said...

We are so very to to hear about your sister Milo.:( We love that she found love and that she is eating all the peaches she can stomach and having a pawty with all those on the other side of the Bridge. We are sending lots of big hugs to all of you.

Love,
Teddy Bear

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Wow...

We are so sorry fur yet another SADurday loss fur woo...

Thanks fur sharing Milo with us and with those in your past...

I'm sure Milo and Tortuga are touring The Rainbow Bridge...

Perhaps she's met up with a Springer sisfur to two of my Siberian pals in DFW - Claire was 13 or so and khrossed last night at home without any warning...she was there and then she was gone...

We'll inkhlude Milo in the khandle we have lit this evening...

Hugz&Khysse,
Khyra

Cappy the Eskie said...

Yes, this is indeed a SADurday. We’re all so sorry to hear of Milos’s crossing over. I hope Milo and Tortuga meet up with Mom’s first dog, Hershey – she was a Heinz 57 dog and lived to be almost 18 years.

Our thoughts are with you.
Love from,
Cappy and Ollie

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

I ws so sorry to read this .. Thank you fr sharng those lovely memories. I am so glad that Mlo had Quinn to be a friend at the end. I think perhaps they recognised that they both had fond a safe haven from dispair when they found you.. They will meet again someday at the bridge and run free together..Hugs GJ xx

Sagira said...

I am SO sorry to hear about Milo. That is so heartbreaking but at least Milo passed know a great family and a super best friend in Quinn.

Sally Ann and Andy said...

Mommy and I are sorry that Miss Milo had to move to heaven. I just know that she and Tourga are now watching y'all.
Sally Ann

Suka said...

We are crying from your beautiful, loving post to your dear, sweet friend Milo. We are so sorry for your loss and we feel your pain. You wrote such a beautiful tribute to your faithful friend and we know he will be greatly missed. We are happy that Milo was able to experience love with Quinn, and we are sad that Quinn has lost his greatest fan.

We wish we had met Milo. He seemed like an extraordinary animal - full of life, adventure, love, and such a unique and spunky personality. You gave Milo an amazing life and he will live on in your thoughts and memories and heart.

Please accept our deepest heartfelt condolences for the loss of your beautiful Milo.

Peace.

Suka and KrisAnne

Amy & the house of cats said...

Oh we are so so sorry to hear about Milo - we had truly hoped for the best. But we are so glad that Quinn was nearby for her when she left - it is good that she had him since she had become his friend. We are so sad for you and we know it will be strange for Quinn to understand. We are sending you lost of comforting prayers and purrs from the kitties.

irene said...

Im sorry to hear about Milo's death. My mom was away for a couple of days and we only got to check the net today. She was a brave and strong iguana. Im sending healing vibes for your family, especially for Quinn.

Run free Milo!

Maxie

Prints the Cat said...

I am very sad to hear about Milo's departure. But, she was so very lucky to have had a good home with you and to have had such a strong bond with Quinn. She had a good life with your family.