Rocky’s time with us ended Thursday shortly after I took the last video of him and the other animals, which I called “The Call To Life.” He was the sweetest boy, and we are ever grateful he led us to our new home. My life with animals is a continuum, I believe they are spirits who come as they wish, and go when they are ready. His time with us has ended, I believe a new time for him will begin, in a new place doing new work. Animals like Rocky do the most important work, they open human beings up to ecstatic experience, give us the gift of marking our lives, appear as magical helpers in our journeys, open us up to the amazing range of human experience and emotion. His end was  comfortable, fast and very beautiful thing. He was so ready to go.

It will remain a private thing for us. We will miss his presence here, as will the many people whose lives he touched, and whose loyalty and endurance he symbolized. I was so touched by the great connection that sprung up between Rocky and Red, and Red was present for Rocky at the end.

Maria and I are so grateful to the thousands of people who sent us messages of support and understanding.  Those who sent different kinds of messages have to follow their own lights, and be faithful to their own Gods. That is the way the world works, that’s what freedom is. The messages of love and understanding meant a lot, more perhaps than you know. I have learned that as a writer I can capture the emotions of animals, but not yet my own. Something work on. Rocky  was only our pony for a short time in his long life, but he did the work he was meant to do. He saw Florence through to the end of her life, he saw us through the beginning of our new life. I wish the same legacy for myself.

Enough said, more than enough. A writer has to learn when words touch and inspire, and when they do not. Time to move on, for him, for us.