(Leah wrote today's text. --Kurt)
Two days ago, our darling sheep, Sweet Pea, laid down and couldn't get back up. While he was weak, he did not seem to be in pain. He would eat the hay and grain that we offered him from our hands, and drink water sweetened with molasses from a bowl. We tried to help him stand but his legs had just stopped working.
We got Sweet Pea in the spring of 1997 as a lamb. His happy disposition and love of being scratched behind the ears made his name fit like a glove. He was certainly the most photographed sheep in the world, mainly because of his willingness to cozy up to the man with the camera. He was also certainly the best sheep in the world. From the six sheep that we started out with, Sweet Pea and his two remaining brothers became the old bachelor kings of the pasture. They set the rhythm of the day, loudly demanding food when they felt it was appropriate, and later staking out good spots to relax and digest their meals.
Last night at 10:30, after her own long day, the Mobile Vet came to our house. She is a kind and compassionate person. She, Kurt and I laid down around him in the hay on the barn floor as she gently released Sweet Pea from this place in time. I swear he smiled as he relaxed and moved on. As we carried him to her van afterward, we could hear owls gently hooting in the trees around us. It was beautiful and sweet like our little friend.
