Rest in Peace, Mia

(PIC: An 8th bday present - the guinea pig from Josh) As usual, Shayla hopped right out to check on her outside pets (Swiffer - the bunny and Mia - the guinea pig) when we got home yesterday afternoon. (Shayla has really been enjoying "Earth Literacy Camp" with a friend this week.) She walked in carrying Mia and said, "Can I bring her in for a little bit?" I told her, "Sure" but wondered why. Without asking, Shayla said, "She's not moving around much. Why isn't she trying to jump out of my hands like usual?" I thought that was odd, but was busy with lesson preparations and paper grading so I didn't think much about it until an hour later when I checked on Shayla and found Mia just sitting on her lap while she watched television. (Never did I realize that her pet and her grandpa were about to share the same "death date".)

I told her that wasn't normal and I was worried. She confided that she was worried too and she asked if she would die. When Shayne came home, he put together a cage for Mia for the living room. About 9:15, Shayla yelled, "Mom, do you think Mia died?" I went to the living room, sat down on the floor beside Shayla and discovered that she was no longer breathing. I told her she went to God's kingdom and wasn't it a great thing she was able to be with Mia when she died. She wasn't out in her cage by herself.

We all three sat on the floor and prayed for Mia's soul and asked Christi to please take care of Mia until Shayla is able to join them all. We shared what we liked best about Mia. Shayla said she would just look in her eyes and always feel happy. I liked when Shayne would "get her going" by "whooping" and Shayne enjoyed feeding her carrots. Shayla quietly cried for about thirty minutes until she was ready to let her go. Then Shayne placed Mia into the empty boot box recently purchased with Shayla's show boots in Amish Country. Shayla thought that would be the best casket for Mia. She selected her burial place, under the Mulberry tree out in the backyard. She cried herself to sleep last night. Rest in peace, little Mia. Shayla's had a summer full of life's lessons. (And NO we don't need a replacement pet, thank you very much!)
I think my insanity with photographs has rubbed off on Shayla. This morning while fixing Shayla's breakfast she asked, "Mom, do we have any pictures of Mia?" I told her, "Of course!"

(PIC: Christi, age 4, April 2002 - playing a game in the library for an Easter Party. A few months later, Christi was diagnosed with a body packed full of cancer. I still can't believe it. She always seemed to be the picture of good health!)

Just a Reminder: The Christi Thomas Family Closing Night will be held from 7-8 tomorrow at the Seneca East Public Library. We hope to see you there! There will be a magician and some great food! You are invited for the program, regardless of whether you participated in the summer reading program or not.