Although we knew this day was coming for a few weeks, nothing ever prepares us for saying good-bye. Today we lost a most loving and amazing spirit embodied in a donkey. Our dear Noah reached the end of his comfort level while dealing with a fast moving cancer. At the young age of 15 years, we said good-bye way too soon. But we treasure the 8 years we had with him.
Noah was an amazing being. Besides being incredibly handsome and exceptionally cute, he had a heart bigger than our whole farm. He was the most gentle and loving soul. In a world often filled with anger, bitterness, and turmoil, Noah exuded peace, love, and acceptance. Both animals and humans could feel that in his presence and derived great comfort in being around him.
When visitors came on tours, Noah would readily stick his nose out to greet them. He was fond of “the little people” in particular. We have many photos of children standing in front of his stall petting his soft nose. For many of them, it was their first experience touching a donkey or any farm animal. He was a great ambassador. And he loved his job.
To us he was simply Noah – gentle, unassuming, easy going and steady. To the younger donkeys however, he was known as “Uncle Noah.” Noah was a great uncle especially to our semi-orphaned donkey foal Murfee. We say semi-orphaned because Murfee was born here to Mabel when she was retired here in her mid-thirties and stunned us, when shortly after she arrived, we discovered she was pregnant. She delivered a healthy foal and then declared she was done with that. She refused to nurse him and chased him away. We had to put him in a stall next to her and bring him in to her for supervised nursings multiple times a day.
It was a rough start for poor Murfee. But when Murfee was just a few months old, Noah arrived. It occurred to us that just maybe Noah could be the wonderful uncle that Murfee needed. And indeed he was. Noah helped Murfee find his way and place in life. Noah taught him tolerance and patience which Murfee sorely needed to learn.
Noah was loved by all of his donkey herd. What was not to love? He had a heart of pure gold. Watching him the past few weeks, and understanding that he didn’t have much time left with us, was difficult. Worrying about what would happen to Murfee and how he’d manage without the steady guidance of Uncle Noah, was on all of our minds. It felt like our hearts were breaking.
But Noah reminded us that he was still alive and didn’t want us grieving for him while he was still here. “Just love me,” was his message. “That’s all I want or need.”
Loving him was easy and he had that in abundance from all of us. And in his special Noah way, he taught us all about staying present even when great loss was soon to come. When the time came, it was very clear. Although he didn’t want to leave and we didn’t want him to leave either, his body could no longer go on.
“What better way to go,” he told Dawn, “then savoring what I have and wishing there would be more. It is a good life.”
While we deal with our own grief of losing him, his gifts continue all around us. Our attention immediately went to Murfee. But as we watched him handle the loss of his dear Uncle Noah, we realized how calmly he was taking things. And it occurred to us that Noah had prepared him and he understood. Their relationship was complete. Their hearts understood their connection would remain. And Murfee walks on with Noah still beside him right in his heart.
But Noah didn’t stop there. As we laid his body to rest right here at the farm, we held a memorial for his caretakers who wished to be there. We shared our stories about him out loud. One by one we laughed at the memories and felt the love and honor we have for such a gentle soul. And as we stood there together, a dragonfly suddenly appeared and flew in a circle above Noah’s body in the grave. It then flew up to the circle of people standing above and flew one lap around us all before it gently landed on the ground behind us. We all could feel the meaning. In silence we stood there and the dragonfly just simply vanished. Noah had left a message for all of us too. “I’m ok, and I’m still here with you.”
Well done Noah. What a life. So well done. Our hearts are full. You will always and forever be a part of this farm and will live on in all of our hearts. Rest easy sweet man.