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Today, on the way back from Vermont, we drove by the farm where we first saw Simon after he was taken by the New York State Police off of a farm where he was near death from starvation and neglect.
Simon’s story deeply affected me and Maria as we agreed to adopt him, nurse him back to health, and love him dearly. He was a sweet and compelling character, he showed no bitterness or hostility for all of his troubles.
I will never forget those gentle and amazing moments when he lay inert in our back pasture and I knelt down alongside of him and applied wounds and salves to his many sores and injuries and infections. He let me touch every wound, stick my hand in his mouth, rub his gums and polish his surviving teeth.
He recovered quickly and walked with me in the woods, and brayed for joy every morning when I came out of the house we called it the “call to life.” I even wrote a book about him, “Saving Simon.”
I will always remember his love for me, his love for people, the sense of gratitude and appreciation he always exuded. What a sweet and remarkable creature he was. I found a video in my file giving thanks for him on the Thanksgiving before he died suddenly from a stroke, and I am happy to post it again.
I will always remember you Simon, I am grateful for every day I spent with you and your generous and loving soul.
What an amazing story….thanks for the memory of beautiful Simon, whose example lifted our hearts!
Jon, I first “met” Maria and you through the book. I loved all the stories of Simon you posted on the blog. And even cried when you lost him. I have one of your photos of him as wallpaper on my laptop, so I see him everyday! His was and still is a beautiful story.
Beautiful, gentle Simon, I always loved you.
What a timely post for me. I’ve been re-reading “Saving Simon” and I’m still reading your blog from the beginning. Today I’m up to your post on 10/24/2011, “Two Asses. On the Road.” You’re still on your “Going Home” book tour, but you took some time to walk Simon, writing, “The book tour isn’t quite over yet, but I’m trying to get Simon back into the practice of walking with me, and he seems into it. Donkeys are curious in many ways, they are grumpy with one another and butt and kick each other, but when they are separated, they are visibly upset and call out to one another. Simon loves his walks, though and we do it donkey style, stopping and starting as the mood strikes him. He is quite affable. The tour resumes Thursday at the Odyssey Bookstore in S. Hadley, Mass.” There’s a sweet picture of the two of you walking down the road, too. Here’s to you, Simon, and your “Call to life”!
Beautiful loving story..
Simon seemed such a gentle and happy with your and Maria’s care to bring him back from the brink of death. Miss seeing stories about him. Nice to see that video, Jon!
Meant to say gentle and happy animal.