Farewell to Elizabeth

Penelope_Grey · 03-25-07, 03:36 PM

Or "Liz" for short. Short as in, Lizard not the most original name I know. My pet Iguana has finally died, as of yesterday. She was 21 years old. I had her from age 10, and I loved her very much. She was more than just a pet, she was my best friend, I used to tell her everything and I always felt better for giving her a cuddle, and I know she felt better for having received a cuddle, well you know... me being warm and her being cold blooded. But even so, it was a win/win situation wasn't it?

She had a few battle scars on her where next doors cat attacked her, but she fended him off, I can remember her biting and whipping him with her tail. She was a real fighter, and I miss her terribly. I know it sounds daft because you don't think of a Lizard as being the sort of pet that can be attatched to you, but I have cried buckets and that is because I know she knew me even if only instinctively, she still knew me and responded to me. And I'm typing this and I can feel myself filling up again. Its wicked and cruel.

I have felt really awful all day today, I suppose I feel better for getting this out of my system. I suppose I got so used to having her about you don't really expect them to die do you? Its like, they should live forever. But they don't.

The Avon Lady · 03-25-07, 03:40 PM

And here I was, ready to say "god save the Queen."

I remember in my childhood nursing my sick canary and then one morning watching her sing a last song before dropping off the perch for good.

Skybird · 03-25-07, 03:42 PM

Don't cry that they're gone,
better smile that they were there.

AJ! · 03-25-07, 04:51 PM

Im far too soft when it comes to animals.......

All i can say is im sorry to hear that and i hope you feel better soon

joea · 03-25-07, 04:54 PM

Still remember our dog and two cats growing up...great memories to cherish as I am sure you will. Sorry for your loss.

Penelope_Grey · 03-25-07, 05:16 PM

Thanks guys.

I was saying to my brother I was, on the Thursday, something seems wrong with Liz, and then on the Friday he says to me, "I think she's dying Penny" and I was really hit back with that. I just couldn't believe it!

Then the following day she was curled up on her bedding dead it was heart breaking to see. At least she didn't suffer I think. not sure if I could ever have another Iguana now, Lizzie was one of a kind and very very special to me. I grew up with her. That makes all the difference.

Kapitan_Phillips · 03-25-07, 05:20 PM

I watched my pet rabbit die once. He died snuggling with us, so that serves as a bit of a cushion.

Sorry to hear for your loss, but at least they're iguanaing in a better place

Skybird · 03-25-07, 05:24 PM

Don't get the same kind of pet. But a different. A parrot could be with you for the rest of your life.

Extremely intelligent and social, you need to invest time for the duration of his life, so it is quite a responsebility (but is it ever any different when you have animals?). My grandpa had one, green bird with a red head, don't know the exact race. The way he sometimes found new ways to interact with us humans was - stunning, to say the least. Anything but a dumb animal, really. He really knew how to read us, and played us jokes, knew when there was a party, or somebody was feeling sad and could need a cheer. Very amazing. He also taught my grandpa's dogs to respect him - hunting dogs. they had stopped to try to go for him: they were irritated by this bird not being afraid of them, but attacking them and calling commands at them.

TteFAboB · 03-25-07, 11:00 PM

21 years old? That's 11 above average and 8 short of the longest one recorded. Very nice! You must have taken very good care of her!

baggygreen · 03-26-07, 12:05 AM

I hope you didnt know that off the top of your head mate!

its a part of life penelope, i know it sucks, but ultimately, theres no way around it, so we gotta accept it.

Letum · 03-26-07, 03:27 AM

Nothing lasts forever and perhaps it is the temporary nature of things that means that we don't just take those we are close to for granted, but instead we love them.

Sorry to hear of your loss Penelope.
Take care.

TteFAboB · 03-26-07, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baggygreen

I hope you didnt know that off the top of your head mate!

Me? I sure didn't!

She didn't live forever, but your memories of her will exist forever. Hmm, unless you ever bump your head a bit too strongly.

Better put on a helmet, just to be safe.

Penelope, your sorrow will pass, as everything else passes in this temporal universe. You will keep your memories, not your sadness. So enjoy the moment, the experience. Cry bucketloads, cry untill you dehidrate if you wish. Don't be shy or afraid. Remember everything, all the good moments with her, everything she ment to you. Feel as sad as you wish. Soon there'll be a new piece in the puzzle of your mind. Lizzie's piece will set in just fine, in her priviledged spot. How many Lizards can say they had you as a best-friend? (Not many, because speaking isn't their strong suit). And how many girls can say Lizzie was the best lizard-friend a girl could ever have?

I'm afraid it's not all good news though. I musn't hide it from you, I have to tell you. You would find out sooner or later anyway, if your record is good.

I'm sorry Penelope, but only dogs go to heaven........:rotfl:

melendir · 03-26-07, 11:38 AM

Sorry for your loss

Oberon · 03-26-07, 11:53 AM

There's a wonderful little bit of writing called 'Rainbow Bridge' floating around on the net, if you've never read it...I recommend it...it'll make ya cry...but give you hope that perhaps one day you'll see her again.
I was hit pretty hard by the loss of my beloved ginger cat 'William' (Also known by a multitude of nicknames, including but not limited to Kaiser Wilhelm II

) who left this world purring in my arms at the vets.
Lizzie sounds very well loved, and at least she went peacefully and in the home she knew and loved. My thoughts are with you.

Penelope_Grey · 03-26-07, 12:09 PM

Thanks all, I actually feel a lot better about the whole situation, I got ride of her cage and things today because having them in the house was just too much of a reminder, I put them on the attic. My mother never liked Liz much, said she was a "Ghastly creature" I reckon she'd have rathered a cat or a dog or something. But the beauty of Liz was, you didn't have to take her for walks, she had no fur so that meant no fleas. And probably the best part of all was the fact she was unusual, when people say to me what pet do I have I get to say and Iguana, quite a unique pet to have.

I did take very good care of her, kept her clean and she was fed properly, I read up how to take care of her. She was actually my aunt's pet, but, when she got married her new husband was not willing to have Liz with them, he was terrified of her so she was offered to me and I readily accepted it. I was only 10 years old at the time, I'm 19 now, and if you do the maths, Liz was already 12. So she had a good long life.

I feel a lot better about it all now and maybe one day I will get a new pet. But I want to thank you all for the kind words.

03-25-07, 03:36 PM	#1
Penelope_Grey Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,893 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Farewell to Elizabeth Or "Liz" for short. Short as in, Lizard not the most original name I know. My pet Iguana has finally died, as of yesterday. She was 21 years old. I had her from age 10, and I loved her very much. She was more than just a pet, she was my best friend, I used to tell her everything and I always felt better for giving her a cuddle, and I know she felt better for having received a cuddle, well you know... me being warm and her being cold blooded. But even so, it was a win/win situation wasn't it? She had a few battle scars on her where next doors cat attacked her, but she fended him off, I can remember her biting and whipping him with her tail. She was a real fighter, and I miss her terribly. I know it sounds daft because you don't think of a Lizard as being the sort of pet that can be attatched to you, but I have cried buckets and that is because I know she knew me even if only instinctively, she still knew me and responded to me. And I'm typing this and I can feel myself filling up again. Its wicked and cruel. I have felt really awful all day today, I suppose I feel better for getting this out of my system. I suppose I got so used to having her about you don't really expect them to die do you? Its like, they should live forever. But they don't. __________________ I SURVIVED THE FIRST EVER SUBSIM WEREWOLF HUNT - and... I actually won the game for the humans too!

03-25-07, 03:40 PM	#2
The Avon Lady Über Mom Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jerusalem, Israel Posts: 6,147 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	And here I was, ready to say "god save the Queen." I remember in my childhood nursing my sick canary and then one morning watching her sing a last song before dropping off the perch for good. __________________ "Victory will come to us from the wombs of our women." - Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, Speech before the UN, 1974

03-25-07, 03:42 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Don't cry that they're gone, better smile that they were there. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-25-07, 04:51 PM	#4
AJ! Commodore Join Date: May 2006 Location: That lil island above france Posts: 601 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Im far too soft when it comes to animals....... All i can say is im sorry to hear that and i hope you feel better soon __________________

03-25-07, 05:16 PM	#6
Penelope_Grey Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,893 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks guys. I was saying to my brother I was, on the Thursday, something seems wrong with Liz, and then on the Friday he says to me, "I think she's dying Penny" and I was really hit back with that. I just couldn't believe it! Then the following day she was curled up on her bedding dead it was heart breaking to see. At least she didn't suffer I think. not sure if I could ever have another Iguana now, Lizzie was one of a kind and very very special to me. I grew up with her. That makes all the difference. __________________ I SURVIVED THE FIRST EVER SUBSIM WEREWOLF HUNT - and... I actually won the game for the humans too!

03-25-07, 04:54 PM	#5
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Still remember our dog and two cats growing up...great memories to cherish as I am sure you will. Sorry for your loss.

03-25-07, 05:20 PM	#7
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I watched my pet rabbit die once. He died snuggling with us, so that serves as a bit of a cushion. Sorry to hear for your loss, but at least they're iguanaing in a better place __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

03-25-07, 05:24 PM	#8
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Don't get the same kind of pet. But a different. A parrot could be with you for the rest of your life. Extremely intelligent and social, you need to invest time for the duration of his life, so it is quite a responsebility (but is it ever any different when you have animals?). My grandpa had one, green bird with a red head, don't know the exact race. The way he sometimes found new ways to interact with us humans was - stunning, to say the least. Anything but a dumb animal, really. He really knew how to read us, and played us jokes, knew when there was a party, or somebody was feeling sad and could need a cheer. Very amazing. He also taught my grandpa's dogs to respect him - hunting dogs. they had stopped to try to go for him: they were irritated by this bird not being afraid of them, but attacking them and calling commands at them. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-25-07, 11:00 PM	#9
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	21 years old? That's 11 above average and 8 short of the longest one recorded. Very nice! You must have taken very good care of her! __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand

03-26-07, 12:05 AM	#10
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	I hope you didnt know that off the top of your head mate! its a part of life penelope, i know it sucks, but ultimately, theres no way around it, so we gotta accept it.

03-26-07, 03:27 AM	#11
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Nothing lasts forever and perhaps it is the temporary nature of things that means that we don't just take those we are close to for granted, but instead we love them. Sorry to hear of your loss Penelope. Take care. __________________

03-26-07, 11:38 AM	#13
melendir Machinist's Mate Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 129 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 0	Sorry for your loss __________________ ------------ - Melendir - ------------

03-26-07, 11:53 AM	#14
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	There's a wonderful little bit of writing called 'Rainbow Bridge' floating around on the net, if you've never read it...I recommend it...it'll make ya cry...but give you hope that perhaps one day you'll see her again. I was hit pretty hard by the loss of my beloved ginger cat 'William' (Also known by a multitude of nicknames, including but not limited to Kaiser Wilhelm II ) who left this world purring in my arms at the vets. Lizzie sounds very well loved, and at least she went peacefully and in the home she knew and loved. My thoughts are with you.

03-26-07, 12:09 PM	#15
Penelope_Grey Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,893 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks all, I actually feel a lot better about the whole situation, I got ride of her cage and things today because having them in the house was just too much of a reminder, I put them on the attic. My mother never liked Liz much, said she was a "Ghastly creature" I reckon she'd have rathered a cat or a dog or something. But the beauty of Liz was, you didn't have to take her for walks, she had no fur so that meant no fleas. And probably the best part of all was the fact she was unusual, when people say to me what pet do I have I get to say and Iguana, quite a unique pet to have. I did take very good care of her, kept her clean and she was fed properly, I read up how to take care of her. She was actually my aunt's pet, but, when she got married her new husband was not willing to have Liz with them, he was terrified of her so she was offered to me and I readily accepted it. I was only 10 years old at the time, I'm 19 now, and if you do the maths, Liz was already 12. So she had a good long life. I feel a lot better about it all now and maybe one day I will get a new pet. But I want to thank you all for the kind words. __________________ I SURVIVED THE FIRST EVER SUBSIM WEREWOLF HUNT - and... I actually won the game for the humans too!