Mrs. Possum comes to visit each night now, not bothering the chickens but finishing up any food they spilled or left behind. We surmise it is a "she" because of a large white patch on the back, perhaps caused by babies clutching the hair there in another season?When Daisy (dog) and I saw her last night, she lay apparently dead but really playing "'possum". Daisy nosed it around, but it didn't move, indeed was stiff and smelled dead (caused by a secretion of the anal gland, like we needed to know that). I pushed first with my shoe, and then with a stick, turning it neatly over. No movement. I contemplated picking it up by the tail and popping it in a dog crate, but feared it would curl up and bite my arm. I 'd likely drop it and get rabies shots for weeks.
I put Daisy inside the house, thinking that would be the test to see if it lived still. Sure enough, when I returned, it stood looking at me. Apparently, I'm not as scary as my dog, for instead of playing dead, it lumbered off. Ugly thing. William and I have read a story about the opposum's tail and why it has no hair - it was too prideful of its beauty. Hard to believe anything was ever beautiful about this overgrown rat.
As for today, at the grocery I bought soft and frozen treats, fruit drinks and ice cream to properly mother my son who had his adenoids removed and ear tubes inserted this morning. I picked up a few other items while there. I suppose it is a testament to the healing of the young human body that when I returned, and he starving from having had no food all day, wanted tortilla chips with con queso dip to eat. Naturally, he's not getting that given that he's just had his nasal and throat cavities reamed out, but it is good to know he's feeling better. He is taking every opportunity, however, to play up his invalid status. Relieved to have this over, I'm only too happy to accomodate him. We are hoping that his newly drained ears will keep us from having to shout every word and lower his decibel level as well. He was a very brave boy at the hospital, impressing the staff with his politeness. He is happy, however, to be home.
What's next? Paris (dog) is looking perkier but is as blind as a bat. I'm doing my best by her, but I don't know. Lazarus - he'll have to go to the vet for his sore paw, which I dread because he goes all feral on us when there. Anyone want a mean, stupid cat?
8 comments:
"When Daisy (dog) and I saw her last night, she lay apparently dead but really playing "'possum". Daisy nosed it around, but it didn't move, indeed was stiff and smelled dead (caused by a secretion of the anal gland, like we needed to know that). I pushed first with my shoe, and then with a stick, turning it neatly over. No movement."
Where else could we get this stuff? Strangely very cool. Best wishes to your boy and to YOU ;->
I am glad to hear that William is doing well. We missed you at the thrift store today!
Cathy, I am so happy to hear William has not only done well, but is recovering rapidly and nicely. He has been in my prayers. I had a friend who once said, "Just put a kid and his parts in the same room, and they'll recover." Not always true, of course, but this time, happily so. Love to all.....Robin
So all those possums alongside the road are not really dead?! (Sorry, bad joke) Glad to hear your son is doing well.
Glad the munchkin is doing well, and super glad you're not having to take rabies shots!!
Dear Junosmom,
I thought the bit about the secretion from the anal gland rather interesting. I am quite with Cloudia on this one, glad to know it. And then, when I go to your source, I find out that the Virginia Opossum is a marsupial... wow!
Good work on William. Have fun with Lauren on Saturday (general or local anaesthesia?) and hopefully Anna does not get sick too. When do you get sick so that you can take a break?
Knock on wood, its better if you just take a break without getting sick. It does sound like never-ending crisis management though.
All the best,
Chris
Cloudia: Yes, I thought it strangely cool, too. My family was not impressed with my new found knowledge and so, it is good to have my blog!
Chuck: Aw! It is good to be missed!
Robin: Yes, amazing thing the (young) human body.
David: Not a bad joke so much - They can play dead for hours! I think the ones with guts spilling out are dead though.
Janie: yes, good decision on my part, wasn't it? I need your hunting dogs. My dog can find anything, but doesn't kill. Wait, maybe your hunting dogs only retrieve?
Chris and All, thank you for the good wishes for William. He slept for the first night EVER without snoring. He is doing very well.
Chris: The "possum", in Australia, as opposed to the "opposum" in North America, is also marsupial. Our opposums are nearly so though, as they carry the babies clinging to their backs. They seem to have lost their pouch! And why would you think that I get a break because I am sick? I am a mom. Moms don't take off because they are sick! This mom, however, does take a break daily to read her blog comments, blog roll and email, and finds it sustains her.
Thank you for all your comments.
Jm, you beat me to that comment about moms not getting to take off because they are sick.
'Possums to me are nothing more than over-grown rats... just ugly!
I do remember a story book I had as a child about a 'possum family. If memory serves correctly, the daughter-possum was named Eugenia. While I don't remember the story, I seem to recall it being cute.
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