Monday, September 28, 2009

Goodbyes

Sometimes it's the most unexpected things that can bring you down... like the every night ritual of popping Femilon. Yesterday I just stared at those pills wondering at the automation of the routine, willing them to defend their existence in my life, loud, threatening-to-be-thunderous sobs racking my body.

And sometimes, it's the simplest things that can prop your defeated soul up... like two heads entwined, gurgling with guffaws, a male bonding that I can never possibly recreate with Nino: and understanding a lesson that is painful but pertinent - that there is a purpose in being lost and lonely as well.

--

We gave Sneelock the snail away yesterday... actually I did. Sneelock laid over a hundred eggs last month and nearly half of them popped out into tiny, beautiful, awe-inspiring babies. The terrarium would eventually be very small for all of them - and snail babies need a lot of calcium for their growing shells... something they best get in the wild. Nino and I'd spoken about the babies: I thought we'd keep one or two and put the rest away, carefully, in a place where they'd be safe. But Nino turned around and said very matter-of-factly that we'd have to give Sneelock away as well - Why, I asked - and he said, Well, the babies need Sneelock, right?

We thought long and hard about where to put Sneelock - snails are pests, technically speaking, so they wouldn't be very welcome in someone's garden. They needed to be safe, where the earth is moist, but where water is not very close - because they can drown, safe from dogs - because dogs can crack their shells.

So yesterday, when Nino was away at a b'day party, I picked up my gentle friend, and his/her babies, put them in a tiny box and drove a morose five minutes to Sundervan, a beautiful haven in the middle of Ahmedabad's concrete mayhem, where snakes and porcupines, geese and crocodiles make for one happy family. Trudging through the dense vegetation, in a area where visitors are not allowed to step in, as my dear father-in-law kept a watch, I settled Sneelock and the babies by a fallen, hollow tree trunk. I felt foolish at the sting of my tears: and I muttered a hasty goodbye, but I did take a picture of this beautiful creature that came home for a few days, and its babies, who'd climbed all over its shell, ready, for yet another adventure.

I will miss you, brave Sneelock, soo-per, stoo-pendous, mighty Sneelock. Just like your namesake, you were an unexpected entertainer and friend.

13 comments:

nitya said...

Ouch. Painful, painful, painful.
And the children are always so matter of fact...
Good bye Sneelock - may you have many more babies and grow old and wise!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nino's mum, I hope you will find solace in the fact that Sneelock and its babies have found their new home in the wild! And what a beautiful insightful line: "there is a purpose in being lost and lonely as well."

Best wishes,
Anjali

dipali said...

Such wisdom from Nino.
May Sneelock and family be happy in their new home.
I sometimes wonder what is the point of this whole adventure of ours, being alive:(

Jean said...

Interesting blog!
I come from your comment at baktoo.blogspot.com. I was interested seeing the name 'Nino' because it is the (pet)name I have chosen for a character in a story I am writing.
My son is a three and a half year old too, so I guess I can relate!

Jean,
Bangalore.

Tharini said...

Awww. :(

Two heads close together, guffawing together sounds like just what the Great Doctor must have called in for you at just the right moment...

Celebrate the loneliness...its can give you great strength when you welcome it.

Sands said...

bye bye sneelock. That was very sweet of Nino. Hope sneelock finds as much happiness in the open as he did with you and Nino :)

Manjushree Abhinav said...

Amazing. My Guru passed away yesterday morning, but there wasn't a sense of goodbye. I guess we get more attached to pets because they are so vulnerable.

VJ said...

Aww....
goodbye Sneelock.
Nino is sooo practical...isnt he?

Nino's Mum said...

Nitya - touche.

Anjali - :) insight is always post-script, atleast with me!

dipali - hugs. why? you're part of my puzzle of purpose, you know that, right?

Jean - thanks, and welcome here.

T - I am learning, bit by bit, to apply your wisdom to my life, you know that right? and I know what you mean. hugs.

Sands - thank you! I hope so too. I miss him/her so much in the mornings though - when I'm usually cleaning the terranium, choosing its food, cleaning the water bowl... :(

Grasshopper - I read about Ramesh. Hugs Manju, and much, much love.

VJ - :) yup.

Choxbox said...

whatever is bugging you nino's mum - may it go away soon.

and the simple wisdom of the child.. priceless.

Sujatha Bagal said...

Is it silly that I googled Femilon!??

Nino's thought for the snail babies reminded me of D. Last night as I was putting her to bed, she asked where Buzz Lightyear's parents were. :)

Feel good, NM.

Solilo said...

Aww..goodd bye Sneelock. How is Nino doing?

That is what I mentioned about Snails. They multiply so fast. We have garden snails that our gardener controls with anti-snail spray and stuff.

Nino's Mum said...

chox - can I tell you a secret? I think it did, in a small, but really really hopeful way.

Suj - hahaha :) not really. perhaps that's why I put the brand name there, to make it less obivous.

Solilo - thanks! Nino's good: hope you're well.