Yesterday was hard, so I took a day off from blogging. Brian went on an awesome cross-island hike (Needle peak pictured to the left) with 69-year-old, hiker and natural healer, Pa. Pa is, without a doubt, the most famous person in Rarotonga. Breegan and I went to the beach, and babied Spider Pig. His 4:00pm appointment loomed like a dark cloud, and he seemed a bit more agitated today. Pigs aren't stupid. Incidentally, I had already trained pig to pee outside on the grass. Despite his handicap, and age, he was a smartie indeed.
 
We gave him lots of pets and milk, and cuddled him up in soft blankets. Brian came home around 2:00 pm, and we packed up piggy and headed into town to run some erands. Finally, we ran out of errands, and it was time to go to Esther Honey to have pig put down. The vet ( I am so sorry I forgot his name - he's an excellent vet, recently graduated from Cornell I believe) met us, and asked us if we wanted to go in with him.
 
I sent Brian and Breegan off to pet the kittens, and I decided I'd go in. The pig was my responsibility, and I felt that I had to take part in this. The vet gave piggy a shot in the back, as I fed him his bottle. He never felt a thing. Soon piggy became sleepy and very relaxed. The vet then asked if he could give him the final shot, that would stop his heart. I said OK - there was of course, no turning back at this point. I pet his head and Caren (who runs the site), pet his back. Spider Pig stopped breathing within about 10-15 seconds, and it was very smooth; he felt no pain. It was a very sad moment and we just stood there, in silence for several minutes.
 
Life can be very unfair. Pig was dealt a very bad hand of cards, despite all our efforts and best intentions.
 
As they do services for free, I gave them a donation, and I got back into the car with Brian and Breegan. My eyes were searing hot from trying to hold back the tears. I kept trying to shake it, and asking myself why I was so rattled over this. Brian was very quiet too, and I realized he was also upset. The reality was, it was not so much that we were upset over this piglet itself, but the feeling of being helpless and unable to prevent untimely death. Our deepest feelings of sadness had bubbled to the top.
 
Kathleen Flowers, Brian's beautiful sister, lost her battle to cancer in April. This experience, with pig's death coupled with the horrible feeling of helplessness...brought Kathleen's memory out front and center, and our very raw pain to the surface. We talked about Kathleen, as we know this is a place on earth, that she really, really would of loved.
 
We were both in need of some downtime, so we went to Trader Jacks in downtown Avarua and ordered some beers on their patio. We watched the sun sink into the peaceful ocean and Breegan played in the rocky beach in front of us, gathering up treasures like broken bottle caps, and rusty fishing lures.
In honor of pig, we decided to make pigs of ourselves, and order the $75 seafood platter for two. When it arrived, it looked like a seafood platter for ten. We ate our way through the massive platter of grilled fish, ika mata (raw fish marinated in lemon and coconut milk), sushi, sashimi, calamari and more. Finally, we could not eat any more.
Our waitress came by and 'tsk tsk'd us'. "You did not eat much food!"
 
Incredulous, I said, "Oh come on! Does ANYONE ever finish one of these things?"
 
She gave a sly smile and said, "No, they don't. It's a lot of food".
 
We took home the leftovers (the box weighed at least two pounds). Needless to say, we made some dogs very, very happy today at the beach.
 
 
We're starting to pack up, and deciding what things will stay, and what will come home. Breegan has so many dirty and stained t-shirts, they  must just book their own flight and go somewhere.
 
 
To those of you kind souls asking where to send the pet supplies, please get them to me after August 3rd. No immediate rush. The pet supplies will be shipped off first, and the books in late September or early October. I will be making boxes (one for books and one for pet collars/supplies) and will send them off.  Thank you, so much.