From the minute I saw Simon struggle with a stroke, I resolved to make sure he was buried on our farm. Often up here, when an animal dies, haulers come in trucks and take the bodies away. Maria and I didn’t want that to happen to Simon. I wasn’t sure if the ground was too frozen for a grave or not, my friend Jack Macmillan suggested I call Vince Vecchio, the man who had dug the trench for our frost free water line.

Sometimes I like to leave the bodies out in the woods for the animals there, but I didn’t want that for Simon. He needed to be here, with us.

Vince is one of those men who can do just about anything and he came mid-day and said he could do it. He was back in two hours. The first grave filled with water, we moved it up the hill. Simon was buried five feet deep to keep scavengers away, Maria leaned over and kissed him on the forehead and Vince covered him up. He is buried just under the apple tree, one of his favorite shade and apple-munching spots. I am glad he is here, and resting there.

Different people appeared. Eli Anita-Norman came with blankets, just in case he needed one, Deb Foster, our house and pet-sitter came, as I knew she would. VInce came by to see about burying Simon. Our friend Mandy Meyer-Hill showed up with soup and bread, Kim and Jack Macmillan came by to offer comfort and help, Scott Carrino came by to say goodbye to Simon,  with whom he had a powerful connection.

And there was the vet, John McDermott of the Granville Large Animal Service, he came rushing in minutes and helped Simon leave the world quickly and peacefully.

Afterwards, I had to go into my study with Red, and Maria, Eli, Deb and then Mandy had tea and talked and laughed. This was the country way, people appear when you need them, they don’t need invitations, they just show up to help. It was just a donkey, I thought, but that was not the point, and they knew that. Simon was not just a donkey, and his loss was not just another day on the farm.

I will visit Simon every morning, our walk together through the theater of chance will continue, he still lives on Bedlam Farm.