R.I.P.

It is always sad when a pet dies.

In our case, it wasn't exactly a pet that lived in the house - or, in our bath tub - rather it was a chipmunk we have fondly referred to for the last year as "Chippy". Usually in the summertime we will catch glimpses of Chippy running around in the back yard, dodging under our deck or disappearing into the little holes he has dug in the grass. And this past winter we have seen him run into the garage to his winter lodgings many a time when the door was left open. (Hopefully there will be no little surprises waiting in there for me this spring.)

Well, yesterday the boys were playing outside when they noticed a little brown fuzz ball spread out in a pile of snow, just lying there. Upon closer inspection, and to the sadness of the boys, they saw what appeared to be a dead Chippy. Or at least we think it was Chippy. I suppose it could have been one of his brothers but that would make for a much less sad (can I say that?) story...

Fortunately the ground was soft enough that Mike could bury him in the back yard in our "pet cemetery" (aka, my Hosta garden) alongside the baby bunny, squirrel and misc. birds we have found in our yard over the years ... as it made for a much more respectful resting place than say, the garbage can would have. The boys were very cute and made a wooden cross to mark his grave and informed me that they were going to say some prayers for him.

I missed the funeral, however Mike informed me that Michael's sadness seemed a little more sincere and longer lasting than Erickson's. Apparently as the boys were saying their goodbye's to Chippy, Erick let out a quick, dare I say, almost sarcastic "Goood - Byyyye Chippy!" before running off to play.

In the end, we all got a kick out of Chippy and his antics and are saddened by his departure.