On Saturday, November 21, 2015, I attended the Celebration of the Turkeys at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. I have been a couple of times before, so I knew the routine, but I hadn’t been in the last few years because I waited too long to get a ticket. So, needless to say, I was quite excited about everything – the feeding of the turkeys, the vegan Thanksgiving dinner, the picturesque beauty of the farm, the chance to celebrate compassion with like-minded others, and, yes, the gift shop!!

This year I decided to pay attention to as much detail as I could. My observations started in the parking lot. Mostly New York State cars, but I saw license plates from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts and even one from California. The barn building where we all signed in was a rustic structure with a charming vibe. On display was information about the work the Farm Sanctuary does, facts about animal agriculture abuses, a display wall of photos and quotes from celebrities in the scientific and entertainment community about human relationships with other living beings and others praising the work of Farm Sanctuary. Hot apple cider, hot tea and coffee, and healthy chips and cookies gave us sustenance for our journey to the animals.

Despite a blustery cloudy day, we set out to once again see and interact with those farm animals that most of us might pass on the road when we see cows or chickens in a field, but don’t get to look into their eyes and know them the way we do our companion animals. 

The feeding of the turkeys, of course, is the main event. We all sat on bales of hay and watched trays of cranberries, lettuce and squash being placed on the low lying tables being set for the feast. The guests were not us humans all seated around on bales of hay, but the turkeys. It always strikes me that this event is such a powerful symbolic scene. On Thanksgiving, so many turkeys are killed to provide that essential? part of the celebration. But today we were reversing that to feed the turkeys, not eat them. A new tradition of compassion witnessed by men, women and children who want to see a change in how we eat, care and live. I especially love seeing the families with young children – those children are experiencing other ways to see the farm animals and learning to treat them with respect – experiences that will travel with them into adulthood and hopefully influence their choices. 

Lastly, this event is a reinforcement for the choices that I have made – it makes my commitment stronger. Seeing 350+ people take the time to attend this event, support the Farm Sanctuary, some traveling many miles – all for the purpose of gathering to honor and share with like-minded others, the compassionate lifestyle. Seeing the enthusiasm of so many for this lifestyle gives me hope that this movement to respect the lives of farm animals and their right to not be abused and treated like commodities for human consumption will spread and prevail. 

Happy Thanksgiving!– as I celebrate with my family both vegan and non-vegan, I will take the opportunity to share some vegan approved food with everyone and be thankful for those that have taught me, helped me and supported me in my journey towards the compassionate life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The holidays are over and now I have time to catch up with things. Sherlock - oh Sherlock - my first baby! A long time ago when I was quite young and had no use for cats, a sweet little feline came into my life and changed it forever. In my defense re: the cat 'disliker' comment above, I had very bad experiences with cats previously and my family always owned dogs. Back to the story - a friend of mine found a litter of 5 motherless kittens in a cardboard box in the basement of an academic building at the New England college he was attending at the time. He was able to take 3 of them home, but needed to find homes for the other 2. When he called me, I was pretty negative about the whole idea, but he asked if he could just bring them over for me to see. He was quite a persuasive one, so within 1/2 hour he came right over with them. They were so cute, but I wasn't sure I liked the way their bodies felt when I picked them up - sort of fragile and awkward and those crazy claws! However, the more I played with them, smelled them, cuddled with them - my misgivings melted away. After all, they were motherless and homeless, weren't they. I wasn't anybody's mother yet, so maybe it would give me some practice? And, most of all, Sherlock looked me in the eyes as if to say, please let me stay with you - I will be good - I promise. And, of the 2, Sherlock seemed to be the weaker and most affected by the abrupt disappearance of his mother. He would lay on my chest, snuggle, purr and then look up at me with those beautiful eyes. The other one was a little bolder and probably more well adjusted, and cute and appealing all the same. So, as you know already, I did take these 2 cats into my home and named them Sherlock and T.C. (for Top Cat). My life now included the need to feed, clean up after, take to the Dr and love 2 additional beings. The joy I felt when I came home every day was worth any extra work they required. They were happy to see me, rubbing up against my legs and purring; their fur was so soft - as I petted them I could feel my stress levels take a nosedive. I became very close to both of them and all was well for a time. After a few years, Sherlock seemed fine but he was always the skinny one, the one who needed the most attention. One day when I was at home, one of my neighbors knocked on my door carrying a cardboard box. Inside was Sherlock lying on his side. He told me he saw Sherlock in his back yard dragging his hind legs behind him trying to get home. I rushed him the vet's office to discover that he had thrown a blood clot and it had lodged in his lower body and prevented the blood from getting to his legs. The prognosis was not very good. For a couple of weeks, I gave him medication to thin his blood, massaged his legs, isolated him in one corner of the bedroom, helped him eat, kept his little space clean and sanitary. Unfortunately, despite all of the efforts as recommended by the vet, I found him no longer breathing one morning when I woke up. I was quite distraught and found it difficult for quite a while to get over losing my sweet little Sherlock. Even now, when I look at a picture of him (which I did over the holidays), it takes me right back to the feelings I had for my first baby - we needed each other and nurtured each other until the end. There is no doubt in my mind that animals in our world can feel pain and have complex relationships with each other and with humans. How is it that our human world tolerates the abuses that occur to domesticated animals and farm animals? We need to look no further than how we feel about our pets - it really is that simple! Go vegan!

Post.....What??

It has been so long since I posted. Not on Facebook any more, so had the urge to put something out there......... Changed my profile picture - love this one of our dog when he was a puppy - Angus McFergus McTavish Dundee - "Angie" for short. He was our crazy little brother who could sing with the high notes on a recorder, chase us around our house island and never tire, play hide and seek, steal and hoard chocolate cupcakes on a regular basis, and lick our faces when we were sad. I realize that my love of animals was strengthened by having lived with a wild wire haired fox terrier. When the time finally came in my life to be educated on the abuses that humans inflict on animals, some pet animals, and some raised and killed for our food, I was ready to listen. I'm not sure why I didn't get the picture before - denial?, too busy to listen? ignorance? It's funny, but as I look back, I never liked bloody rare meat or the tendons I saw on a chicken leg or the animal parts inside the turkey. It bothered me, but it didn't stop me from eating meat. Now that I am a vegan and have walked through the door to the other side, I look back through and clearly remember those queasy feelings of distaste around animal flesh, bones and body parts. I am so glad that I no longer have to deal with any of that - have learned how to eat a balanced diet without killing. The compassionate lifestyle is now one that I can call mine.