Years ago, I stumbled into a hoarding situation and found myself filling my car with the most desperate cases to take away immediately, while working with law enforcement on the well-being of the rest. Three of the many beautiful beings that I took away that day were lambs, who we named Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. While all three were sweet beyond imagination, there was something about Blynken — an extra measure of grace, perhaps. He lived his whole life without a single moment in which he was anything less than kind and gentle. Blynken’s best friends were Tao, Major TeeHee Jones, and his brother, Nod. Always at the front of the line for bananas or snuggles, Blynken was never shy. In the last few weeks, Blynken slowed down and lost weight. Blood Work revealed that his kidneys were failing. We shifted to end of life care, giving him all the love and bananas and everything else he asked for. And then, one sunny morning, Blynken refused his breakfast. We knew it was his time. Encircled with humans, sheep, alpacas, cats, and chickens that loved him, Blynken closed his eyes and exhaled for the last time. Long live Blynken, in the star world, and in our hearts.
