The day started with a frantic call from Val, the woman on whose farm most of our animals board. One of David's girls delivered a stillborn cria - textbook normal delivery, but the little bugger never took a breath. These things, of course, happen, and we were far more concerned for the dam and for Val's state of mind, as she really tends to take these things to heart.
I had to run a couple errands, one of which was now to stop by the local bakery to get a loaf of chocolate bread to take to Val. I'm a Southerner, after all. It's what we do when there's been a death.
So we drove up to the farm, consoled Val, looked over both baby (premature but fairly good size) and mom (looking normal) and took baby and placenta to the New Hampshire state diagnostic laboratory for post-mortem to sort out whether there was a major congenital problem or possibly an infectious agent that would be a concern for the rest of the herd. The pathologist called us with a diagnosis no more than a couple hours later: congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Its not a problem I've seen described in 'pacas before, but there's no way this baby could have lived. The pathologist also e-mailed me photos, and the lungs were extremely tiny - about half the size of the heart.
This evening was spent giving a plasma transfusion to little Herreshoff, who has been having diarrhea and fever over the past week. He's also been started on antibiotics now and the fever's responding, so hopefully he will do well and shake this off quickly.
Other Sad News
I found out tonight that former Texas governor Ann Richards passed away. She was a pistol of a woman, and I always admired the hell out of her. Texas did themselves (and ultimately the rest of the nation) a real disservice when they booted her in favor of W.
And the Good News Is...
...my main errand this morning was to sign and have notarized the paperwork to get the house in Pittsburgh transferred over completely to S. He still has a bit more to go in paying me off, but at least the end is in sight for having our financial entanglements completely unentangled.
I was a bit annoyed that I was expected to foot the expense for overnighting the paperwork back to his lawyer. I lost money selling my house in North Carolina to be with him (so I could be lied to and cheated on and ultimately dumped - all ostensibly for not being "hot" enough), I agreed to being paid a conservative estimate of the money I'd put into the house in Pittsburgh that didn't account for the appreciation in its market value, I incurred all the expenses of moving and starting over (even though he had agreed to pay half my moving expenses - but what's one more broken promise), and then they expect me to pay even more. Granted, it wasn't a huge sum, but I was kind of feeling like I'd paid enough for him already - in more ways than one.
So I thought about lodging a protest over it, but ultimately I figured I'm better off letting it go. I'm certainly better off without people like that in my life, so the sooner it's all done with the happier I'll be. And if the price of freedom is $14.40, then so be it.
8 comments:
Very wise of you, sometimes it's easier (on your heart and mind, if not your wallet) to pay the money and go your own way.
I'm so sorry about the little cria, how sad.
When I was breeding Mastiffs, I didn't have the money for post-mortems on the little ones that didn't make it, or were born dead - I always wondered why they died. I know that it's probably small consolation to understand the reason.
As for having to pay - it's so worth it to have that last little piece out of the way. It's hard to feel like you have been taken advantage of over and over again - even to this last little thing.
Your life today sounds so much healthier and heart rich (full of love). There was something you needed to learn by being with S. - aren't you glad you learned it and can now move on to a different lesson?
Barbara
http://the-string-and-i.blogspot.com/
Blessings to you, Mel, and to David and Val as well. You are so good to be the Southern gent and take Val food--and chocolate at that!
oxo-k
I'm so sad to hear about Ann Richards. Getting to hear her speak was one of the highlights of living in Austin, TX. I'll miss her.
Sad news about the lost cria.
I'll miss Ann Richards, too. There just aren't enough like her in politics. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
Congrats on cutting a major tie to the ex!
I still think you should have had the pittsburgh house assessed for market value. And split the new difference. S is probably laughing all the way to the bank... where the amount he put into it has probably doubled, at least, in value. S will be able to pay it off... better to let him spend long hours at his office working to pay you off, then for you to just walk away, me thinks. He owes you.
Even though you expect to have a couple of losses when raising animals, it still is a sad time when you do lose one. Hope the mother is feeling okay. Hard on her too!
Yes, lessons in life sometimes do cost a bit. But it's only money, after all. Best cut all ties, and go on with new adventures! Remember that S. will get what's due him in time. It works like that. And so will you!!
Argh - I hate things like that, the sort of niggling ongoing annoyance involved in dealing with certain people... at least you will be free soon??
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