Well what can I say except that. . .

My opossum, Hermia, died yesterday, some time in the wee morning hours. She was looking sickly and so it wasn't too big a surprise. She lived a good long life. As far as opossums go, four and a half years may not seem long to most of us but by our only American marsupial standards that is very old age indeed. I knew she was not long for this world and warned my children that she was on her last legs a few days ago. There was nothing I could do for her, medically. That being said, still does not make the pain of it any less. She was not my pet but rather my fuzzy little friend, my snuggle buddy. I will never forget how she touched my life and taught my children that just because something looks mean and, as one of my closest friends dubbed her, Ugly little rat thing, does not mean that the name fits. Hermia was sweet, she never took a bite out of me or my children, now Hadgrid, my youngest son's cat, of course is the only exception to that. She must have liked the way he smelled and couldn't resist the urge to take a nibble every once and awhile. She kept him on his toes whenever she was on the bed with him. Austin helped me bury her in the planter in our front yard. She is gone but she will never be forgotten. She inspired in me a children's story that I may someday see in print. The adventure's of Hermia. My sweet little muse has returned on the eve of her death, I shell endeavor not to let her down.

I'm not looking for sympathy I just wanted to put this out there.

My oldest son wrote this for his English class I put it here, with his permission, in honor of Hermia

Ode to the scraggily monkey tailed Opossum
By Lakota Moore

Your ears like a bat
Big and black
Round yet thin
Floppy and Soft

Your Feet like the hands of a monkey
Soft yet strong
Fragile and round
Useful and peculiar

Fur like the pelt of a raccoon
Tough yet soft
Warm and camouflaged
Double layered and double colored

Your song you sing to yourself:
Find some food
Play dead
Find some food
Play dead
Find some food
Play dead

Yep that pretty much sums up Hermia.