Our newest kid arrived and we named him “Dark Star”. Of course, we name all our kids after Dead tunes, but we learned a while ago to be careful… The names put a label on their destinies. We had to learn that the hard way. Samson, our stud buck, literally pushed down a wall to the barn one day trying to get to his feed storage. So we have been careful ever since.
For example, Cosmic Charley was a preemie, but not only did he survive, but went on to bring brilliant rays of sunshine to the residents of the hospice care when we brought him with during a visit to see Laurie’s mom. It was literally cosmic the way he brought so much joy and life to those whose last days were all too imminent.
Of course, Dark Star had to earn his name as well…
With the sun setting low in the cool February night, it started with Laurie seeing Delilah jogging off to the barn. She could tell just by her gait that the labor was starting. I don’t know how she knew by that but sure enough, the kid(s?) were on the way. As soon as I got there, yep, the first signs were showing. In our case, our birthing station is actually the downstairs bathroom. It is much easier to deal with everything there, and in this case, that proved completely prescient. Normally cautious, after all, the house is where the dogs live, Delilah went with us no problem.
A couple hours in, the process began in earnest, but I was shocked to see a little tail come out first. Our first breech. A second of panic sets in. Are we ready for this? Definitely not, but failure is not an option when lives are on the line. Gently as possible, I coaxed him out, trying my best not to force anything but knowing time is of the essence. A few tense moments passed. Don’t want to break him, tear her, have a death on my hands. This late at night, out this far in the county, even an emergency vet would likely not be much help, if any.
So we just had to do our best. Delilah was pushing, I was pulling, and he came out. He body was warm and clearing his face allowed him to draw breath immediately. Good so far.
Only moments later, she passed the placenta, great, but that was quickly followed by a second one arriving, quickly and with minimal effort. Unfortunately, it was also dead on arrival. Tiny, but fully formed. I will never know if it was because it took longer for the first due to the breech, or something else. She was a little doe. I buried her by some beautiful deer ferns.
Dark Star earned his name a few ways. First, he finally came out when the stars started filling the night, but he was sort of a “dark horse”, a contender but a long shot since he started his race to life backwards.
Here is to a healthy long life, Dark Star. Here is a wave goodbye to a sister he will never know. Here is to a doe who loves her kids so dearly.
“Shall we go you and I while we can, through the transitive nightfall of diamonds”
Make cheese not war!
Be goatful for what you have & be a kid at heart!