Max Livingston Jr. High R.I.P.

Spring has been absolutely beautiful, here. The blossoms, greenery, and new life have been pretty amazing. We have seen baby bunnies, baby squirrels, beautiful birds, turtles, baby ducks and tons of caterpillars! Danny loves going on walks looking for the "wild"life, and one day we decided to use his nice bug catching container to house a caterpillar.

Randy and I were quite amused when Danny decided to name the caterpillar Max Livingston Jr. High. I'm not totally sure where that came from, but we think it is very cute. We prepped the container with a couple of climbing twigs and some fresh leaves. Danny and I were very good about changing the leaves once or twice a day and cleaning out the little cage. Danny kept him on his dresser and occasionally walked around with the cage hanging from his neck. Randy and I even caught him talking to Max. It was all so cute, that I was very upset one morning when I noticed Max was in the same place he had been in the night before. I lightly tapped the cage and he fell from the twig.

If I could have, I would have tried to catch a new caterpillar and replace good old Max with Max II, but I hadn't seen a caterpillar for a couple of days. Danny walked in on me looking at the cage and asked how Max was. I had to explain... oh the tears that followed. We had a little burial in the "forest" at the back of our property. Danny cried off and on that whole day. He had really good questions about death and nature. It was a very hard day for all of us.

This happened one week ago, and Danny continues to look for a new caterpillar. Occasionally I hear him in his room saying that he misses Max. Max Livingston Jr. High had been a great buggy kind of pet for 5 days, but just couldn't hang on to turn into a butterfly (or moth). Max, may you rest in peace little friend.