Hi, everyone.
First- I want to say thank you so very much to everyone who has reached out to us with a kind message, loving comment, or respectful note of support. It has been truly heartwarming to see the amount of people all over the world who love Jody, her family, and CSNW. Thank you.
To say this has been a difficult time is an understatement. When I sat down to write the blog last Thursday I wrote about how lovely of a day we were having here- after a forage on Young’s Hill and some sunshine, we were all in good spirits. I had no idea things would change so quickly- none of us did. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about saying goodbye to Jody, but words won’t ever do it all justice. Having the opportunity to be her friend, to love her, to know her, to say goodbye, and to watch her family say goodbye– there’s too much love and sadness in all those things to capture.
Yesterday, I was talking with Caregiver Katelyn about how grief is a natural continuation of loving someone- you can’t have one without the other. And, in it’s own way, grief is a little voice that lets us know that the love we had for that individual while they were with us is still there, even though they are gone. The fact that we are all grieving so intensely for Jody indicates just how much we love her.
Jody- how fiercely we all love you.
We learn so many things from the chimps here every day, but Jody taught me to always make sure your family is safe- whether that means keeping a watchful eye on them as they wander down their own path or being there for support as they venture somewhere new. She taught me to enjoy kicking back in a nice big nest and, if someone needs you to move, to carry that nest with you for ultimate comfort at your next location. She taught us to enjoy the food we eat and to make sure everyone knows it’s delicious by making loud dinosaur noises. She taught me to not put up with eating something you don’t like and, if possible, to spit it back out on the person who dared to serve it to you to begin with (maybe the more entertaining lesson to learn). Finally, in her passing she has taught me to enjoy every moment we have with them here in sanctuary and, if that means the daily tasks get done a little later, then so be it. Moments are precious.
I have found myself lately going through all the photos and videos I have on my phone, to find peace and solace in the memories I have of Jody. So many of them I had forgotten about and seeing them again made me smile, so I wanted to share them with you all today. They’re short clips with no real thread tying them together- only sweet Jo.
Fifteen years of sanctuary in your almost 48 years on this earth, Jody. You will live on in all of us and we will continue to tell the world about you.
Love and miss you, always.
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love that is mortal;
to hold it
against your own bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to
let it go,
to let it go.
Mary Oliver
P.S. It’s tough to mention right now, but today is the last day of GiveBIG. Your donations go directly to the care of our residents and every dollar truly matters. If you feel so inclined, please consider donating to help us reach our goal. Thank you.