Memory

In early 2024, our world was turned upside down. After a year already marked by the heartbreaking loss of a significant portion of our herd, we received an unexpected eviction notice. We had to make an agonizing choice: to split our beloved herd and decide who to take with us and who to leave behind.

Amidst the chaos and heartache of that decision, I found myself inexplicably drawn to one wild doe. She had no name then, but she carried a profound presence. She was skittish and had every reason not to trust humans, yet something about her called to me.

As I looked at her, a feeling washed over me, so clear and strong that it felt like a whisper from the universe. The word was Memory.

She was a living memory of Popcorn's mother, a beloved soul we had lost in the tragedy of 2023, and I had always felt they were sisters.

She was a memory of the strength and spirit of the older generation of our herd—the ones who carry a quiet power, who have seen hardships we will never know. In her stoic gaze, I saw a memory of all we had lost, and a symbol of the resilience we were so desperately trying to find.

She wasn't just a goat; she was a vessel for all that had come before.

And so, we named her Memory.

True to the powerful spirit she carried, Memory began her journey with us. The path was not immediate. It took time, patience, and a quiet offering of love with no expectation of return. But slowly, miraculously, the wildness in her eyes softened. The creature that had every reason to fear us began to choose us.

She blossomed from a being of cautious curiosity into one of deep affection. By the end of our time together, she had transformed into the ultimate cuddle buddy, seeking out the connection she once shied away from.

Then, in February of this year, just as she had fully opened her heart, tragedy struck again. I received the heartbreaking news of her passing. Despite her past health challenges, she had shown such vitality. The suddenness of her loss left me in disbelief.

But this is not just a story of loss. It is a story of how love endures.

Her name, which came to us in a moment of intuition, became her final, sacred teaching. She was named for a memory, and now she is a cherished memory. Her physical form is gone, but the love she finally allowed herself to share remains a palpable, comforting force.

Her spirit lingers, a gentle reminder that some bonds are never broken and that the most profound love often comes from the souls who have every reason to withhold it.

Memory had an abundance of love to give. It took years for us to fully embrace it, but once we opened our hearts, there was no turning back. That love remains with us, surrounding us as a gentle reminder of her spirit.

In loving memory – our Memory.