Sunday, March 29, 2009

LOVE STORY



Hurricane Andrew came ashore 19 years ago this August about 30 miles south of us. It was one of three Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. during the 20th century. It caused much devastation and many deaths. People's lives were changed forever. The photo you see above is another unexpected consequence of Andrew. His name is Carlton. He showed up in our neighborhood during the storm. No one knows where he came from. Speculation has it a circus fleeing the storm threw him out. We will never know.  He has been roaming our streets ever since. He would show up in our yard anticipating a cracker or a handful of sunflower seeds that we would willing give him. He seemed quite content. But something was lacking. He needed someone to share his neighborhood with. Enter Antigone. A White Peacock. Carlton would no longer be alone. He could show her where the best food was, the best drinking water, and the best tree limbs for sleeping. Life seemed good:the circle was complete. Unfortunately, this Love Story does not have a happy ending. Carlton passed away last week. While he was not a treasured family pet, he was loved and he shall be missed. He was one of the only good things to come out of Hurricane Andrew.

11 comments:

  1. Great story. Sorry for Carlton and the poor Antigone.

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  2. What a sweet story! I am so sorry about Carlton.

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  3. What a great story. We were in Davie when Andrew hit so didn't get a lot of damage -- just many uprooted trees.

    Could your peacock have blown up here from the Miami Zoo?

    Are you going to look to replace Antigone?

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  4. Always a possibility. He did have a tag on his foot. There are several others in the Victoria Park area, but recent arrivals.

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  5. What a touching post. So sorry about Carlton, but then he was old, right, if he appeared after Hurricane Andrew?

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  6. Great tribute to Carlton. 19 years seems a long time and it sounds like he had a good life.

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  7. What a beautiful tribute to Carlton. So sad to hear of his end. When I lived in Tasmania, we had peacocks and peahens - and babies - and they are beautiful birds. I do hope Carlton's lady-bird finds a new mate.

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  8. Glad to hear Carlton found love before he passed on. I have never seen a white peahen before. She's gorgeous.

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  9. thanks for sharing this story.

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