I went to visit Simon’s grave in the back pasture this morning, and to give thanks for this loving and courageous creature. Maria and I took him in after he was removed from a remote farm by the New York State Police, he was starving, riddled with infections, and near death.

Simon had a loving and accepting spirit and trusted Maria and I to care for him, to rub ointments into his infected gums, give him pain killers, hand feed him hay as he lay weak and in pain on the ground. he recovered, grew strong and became a symbol to many people of perseverance and generosity.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people came to see Simon at our Open Houses. He died of a stroke two years ago, his joyous and welcoming  brays to me – I call them the “Call To Life”  became famous all over the world. I love you Simon, and I am grateful for every single moment we were together. I wrote a book about Simon, it was called Saving Simon.

I am so grateful to have known this wonderful spirit, I miss the walks we took together into the woods.