amo...amas...amat

Today we bid farewell to Stellaluna and Thunderlightning, two baby finches. They had only been with us for four days, but since they had hatched in Daisy’s classroom, she technically had known them a lot longer. Sadly, the little birds didn’t make it on their own.

I had to break it to Daisy after school today that Thunderlightning had died. At the time, Stellaluna was still here. She had been the better eater of the two, so I held out hope that she’d make it. 

Daisy wailed over Thunderlightning. In the short time they were at our house, Daisy had sung them countless songs, showed them millions of pictures, and introduced them to Conkie and Clementine. Daisy and Clementine would share a collective, Awwwwww! when the birds cuddled up together. Needless to say, she was crushed to hear that Thunderlightning had passed. 

We went home and planned a funeral. I have to say, it was a good one. We turned a vitamin box inside out and colored it. Daisy asked me to draw a picture of our family including Julio, so Thunderlightning would know who had loved him.

She and Clementine both added their artistic touches. I sealed the box with washi tape (endless uses for that stuff, I tell you) and we dug a hole in the side yard. 

Daisy gently placed the box in the hole. I asked her to sing a song that she had been singing to the birds. She said, “No, I want to make up a new one.” And she did. We walked in a circle ring-around-the-rosie style while Daisy improvised her song:

The birds can’t resist

But sometimes they do

When birds don’t eat

Then they just die

They put a magnet of beautiful,

Thunderlightning was always there.

And there was love all day and night

The birds have been watching

Before her gift

Her lovely and shining

Came all to her gift

The birds have been watching

before her earth

Of course she came from the love of her birth

The water she led her way

And though her love were a chrysalis

And then her love was happiness

And the sun waking down

Is green with her love

We have been watching

Him all day

When he wouldn’t fly away

Oh to the love of light

Oh to the love of light

I love how she plays with words. She’s like a little beat poet who just likes to string together words that have a certain rhythm and feel. It was the perfect little send off for Thunderlightning. Next Daisy and Clementine gathered rocks to put on the grave, followed by flowers of course. Then we went to Menchie’s for some post-funeral frozen yogurt.

Later that evening, Stellaluna died. Dave and I were putting off telling Daisy because she took it so hard with Thunderlightning, and Stellaluna was the favorite of the two. She looked sad for maybe two seconds, and then perked up and said, “We can have another funeral! Let’s get the crayons.” So we did. Same pictures on the cardboard coffin, a new song sung as we ring-around-the-rosied, more rocks and flowers. This time, though, Daisy had selected her Wonder Woman costume as funeral attire. I think that added a special touch. 

If I die before I make my funeral plans official, just follow the routine Daisy created. I think that would be a perfect send off for any being. Wonder Woman costumes and all.