11/09/2026
Yesterday I lost my girl.
Rhiannon was not with us long in this lifetime, and from the beginning she seemed to be older than her years. Observant, thoughtful, and calm, she was the peaceful one among our three ducks, following them around but never partaking in their arguments or games. We thought she had mother energy. It turns out she was an angel in our midst.
Rhiannon came into our lives at what was perhaps our lowest point. Newly a single mother, with one child deeply struggling and another burying her pain, I dreamed of creating a cozy life for us that finally let our nervous systems rest. We got ducklings, in the mail, tiny balls of fluff in a cardboard box. I ripped out the useless aesthetic landscaping with my bare hands. I homeschooled. I made sourdough. I cried every night.
And eighteen months later, our ducks had grown to maturity happily, with three ponds and hidden nests in the garden. We harvested beans and tomatoes and onions and passion fruit. We planted more trees. My children are happy. I was ready to rest, just like she taught me to.
And so her work was done.
Our little angel returned to the sky, to rest herself until another little girl called her into service. We are so grateful for the time we had with her. It wasn’t long enough, but her spirit will remain with us always, laying quietly under a tree, soaking up the sun, and finding peace in every moment.
Fly high, Rhiannon. We love you.
