up and real

[gfrancie]

Today has been a good day in many ways. My Mom came over to visit and we went to yarn stores and had an entertaining time. We went to Acorn and we walked in on a very sweet store clerk dealing with a super rude and unpleasant customer. The customer was complaining that her gift card (which had no money left on it) should have thirty dollars left. She hadn't used the card in over a year, and according to the gift card history -it had been used up. (it wasn't like some places that will eat up your card if you don't use it within a specific period of time.) The customer had no receipt and was trying to strong-arm the clerk into giving money that wasn't there. The clerk remained very calm and used a quiet voice and the customer kept getting louder and louder and made me think of a spoiled child. The clerk finally said, "if you would like, the store owner will be in tomorrow and you can speak with her about this." the customer than said, "Oh. I know CAROL. I know it isn't worth talking to her." It seems like the woman knew that this was a lost cause and that her poor behavior wouldn't get her anything. She tried to make the clerk give her 30 dollars. When the clerk wasn't having any of it and said -there is no money on the card. The unpleasant customer grabbed the receipts and yelled, "WELL!!!! *huff huff* I am NEVER SHOPPING HERE AGAIN." She slammed out of the shop. There was a moment of silence and a bit of a giggle from people in the shop. We asked if the clerk was okay after all of that. She handled things so well and in such a civilized manner. Oh the fun of people! We then had a nice time looking at things and ended up getting yarn and buttons and making notes of things we wanted in the future. I think the clerks liked how friendly and non-assy we were. It is never wrong to speak up and possibly haggle a bit, but it is never a good idea to be rude. It was slightly surprising in a way, because the general demeanor/atmosphere of most yarn shops I have been in (and I have been in yarn shops in four different countries) is a rather relaxed and encouraging environment. Even in Italy! (okay so the yarn shop by my house is filled with overly customer-service happy people who overwhelm a person but that shop is the exception)
We had fun with Senor Onion who did his best to charm his Grandma. He is talented in this arena. The woman is so easily suckered by him. But then most women are. His Grandma and Nana would probably give him ponies and puppies if given half a chance. And sacks of sugar.
We also went to Weaving Works -though Senor Onion was a bit impatient. The place is very pretty and he can't touch much and it was the end of the day.
Then I made everyone a nice dinner and had my Mother try an ice cream I had made.
There were many good conversations and blathering.

The less good is the hard reality that my rabbit Esmerelda is dying. She is eight -almost nine years old. Which is significant in rabbit years. I have been emotionally prepared for this event for awhile. (you do when rabbits reach this age) She stopped eating about a day and a half ago and she has been laying about in a fashion that looks comfortable. She isn't moving much, her eyes are half-closed and her breathing is labored. It is the last two particular symptoms that are telling. Even when she has been unwell in the past, her eyes were always alert. And this time her eyes have lost their color. And the way she is breathing is like any other creature at the end of their life. I feel mildly sad, but I feel all right. I am glad my Mom was here to have a look at her. Esme is warm and comfortable and has a quiet place and Greg (my other bunny) is near by.
Esme looks so old like Uncle Wiggly and now I just need to guide her to the end.

Comments

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about your bunny. I know that is so hard. :(

In related bunny news, we have wild bunnies that like our yard. But they do not let us pet them. :(

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It is strangely not that hard. She has lived a long time and so it is just kind of a quiet moment.

yeah wild bunnies aren't the friendliest of folk at times. But they are great to watch.

[cusackam.livejournal.com]

Awww sorry that Esme isn't doing well. Are you going to get another to keep Greg company? How old is he?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I am not sure yet about getting a friend for Greg. I may think about it. My Mom could always hand off one of his siblings to me I suppose. I am slowly running a geriatric rabbit home.

[cusackam.livejournal.com]

Gennie's home for the elderly rabbits............

Did you see the craziness from the fair tonight, thank God I didn't put my kids on that swing ride! We were on the other side of one of the buildings so didn't see it fall, still had to answer a million questions from Aidan about it.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I heard something about it. I miss going to the Spring Fair and the poop hits the fan.

[kitchenwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Esme. I hope she is not in any pain. You gave her a very long and happy bunny life, and I'm sure she loves you for it with her little bunny heart.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

She doesn't appear to be in any pain. She laying near her water so she can get a drink if she needs to and is stretched out in a relaxed position that usually indicates comfort with the situation.

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

xoxo to Esme. Even the littlest critters can be so important to us.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Yes.
Right now I feel bad for Greg who keeps looking over for where Esme should be, but isn't. Poor rabbit.

[todayiamadaisy]

It's always good when grumpy customers say they're never shopping there again. I think, well, good, that will make it nicer for the rest of us.

I'm sorry about Esme.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It was a very amusing thing to walk into. The poor clerk probably was doing her best not to hit the person over the head with something heavy.

Thanks.

[sallysimpleton.livejournal.com]

Do you have rabbits at your house or are they at your mom's? I didn't realize you were a rabbit person!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

The rabbits are at my house.
I usually put them out of the way when there are guests so that if anyone is allergic, they won't be sneezing all day. And they are slightly wiggy around a lot of people. Yet they tolerate Senor Onion petting them.

I am kind of a quiet old school rabbit person. I have had Esme for a million years and Greg was part of a litter from a rabbit (named Mopsy) that was acquired the same time I got Esme. Esme was initially bonded to Mopsy and we thought that Esme might be a boy after we found a litter of 8 babies. (turned out to be a rabbit that we were taking care of at the time who wasn't a girl after all. slutty rabbits.) Esme has always been a pretty chill rabbit. But Mopsy and much of her off-spring were made up of psycho-pathic rabbits. I took Greg because he was a menace. He was bonded to one of his brothers -who turned out to be pretty gimpy. Had a problem paw and some other health issues. Greg would very gentle with his brother but cut another rabbit's eye-lid and was known for attacking other rabbits, cats and living creatures. He mellowed with age. Though his Mother and sisters are truly vicious rabbits. If they were people, they would live on council estates and get into fist-fights. Thankfully they are fixed but if they weren't, you know they would have many ugly babies who lived on a diet of mountain dew and sugar cereal. Blathering story about rabbit family history I know.

[lightprincess89.livejournal.com]

Hey hey! Sure... Mopsy attempts to eat dog food and other weird crap, but she is finally mellowing out as well. Although her kids are a bit fat... They are really sweet. Don't mess!
I'm sorry about Esme though. I had wondered if it was getting to that point with her. I am glad that she is in a comfortable place.

[sallysimpleton.livejournal.com]

Hilarious: council estates and fistfighing rabbits!

I've probably talked of this before, but my first adult pet was a Netherland Dwarf. My roommate talked me and another roommate into getting two rabbits who we thought were both male. Turned out NOT. They had babies within six months. I kept their one surviving offspring & he lived well over a decade. I had him fixed at around ~3 years and boy was he aggro before that. He became quite docile & lovely afterward. He died last September (07). I had become horribly allergic to him, so in the midst of my divorce, an old friend took over his care. He was spoiled out of his mind for the last 3 years of his life.

I have such a soft spot for rabbits. They are good pets.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

See that is the way to go.

[scream4noreason.livejournal.com]

One of the delights about the antique centre where I used to work, if someone haggled too much or was disrespectful we could say, "Ok, well we will just go lock it back up in the cabinet for someone nice to buy..." and take the item and lock it back up.

When they screamed "I'm never shopping here again!" we just said in unison "Thank god!"

Sorry to hear about your bunny.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Now that sounds like my kind of place.

[jess-faraday.livejournal.com]

Poor bunny! It sounds like she's as comfortable as possible, and surrounded by the ones who care about her. We should all have that in the end.

The retail story....Ugh. I think short of being a cop, working retail can be one of the most cynical-making lines of work around. By the time I was done with it, I was convinced that *everyone* was running some sort of scam.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Yeah as ways to go, it is going well.

I really liked the vast majority of people I dealt with in retail. I have a sick sense of fun. Most people I encountered were easy to please, often fun to talk to and if I had them leave really happy/satisfied I felt good. But now and then there was someone who had some funny ideas about what they were entitled to and the occasional psychopath. But I like to think they made the job more entertaining.

[cutebutpsycho99.livejournal.com]

I kind of envy Esme. I hope that when I go, it's in a similar fashion. Or maybe in the throes of passion with Hector, my young, nubile cabana boy who looks like Colin Farrell.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I like how you think.
Esme is still here this morning. My Mother warned me that they can take a few days to go. It isn't bad. I check on her, pet her ears and say hello.

[pink-aster.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about Esmerelda. :(

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
It was a good death. Most people would want this kind of death for themselves.

[utsi.livejournal.com]

wishing esme a peaceful passage, she was fortunate in her choice of owners.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It was a peaceful passing. Probably one of the best.