YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=EJOg1WceRpI
Previous: Animal Wonders Project For Awesome 2023
Next: Sunny Turaco Takes A Bath #animalrescue #animalsanctuary

Categories

Statistics

View count:32,069
Likes:1,880
Comments:237
Duration:05:00
Uploaded:2023-02-23
Last sync:2024-10-03 21:15

Citation

Citation formatting is not guaranteed to be accurate.
MLA Full: "I Love You Forever Lollipop." YouTube, uploaded by Animal Wonders Montana, 23 February 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJOg1WceRpI.
MLA Inline: (Animal Wonders Montana, 2023)
APA Full: Animal Wonders Montana. (2023, February 23). I Love You Forever Lollipop [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EJOg1WceRpI
APA Inline: (Animal Wonders Montana, 2023)
Chicago Full: Animal Wonders Montana, "I Love You Forever Lollipop.", February 23, 2023, YouTube, 05:00,
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EJOg1WceRpI.
Lollipop the skunk is nearing the end of her life and every moment with her has become precious. Jessi visits Lollipop on one of her nightly check ins and captures her time with Lollipop on video while sharing her thoughts about grief and love.

Our Video Sponsors:

Sadaf Kadir
Emma
EZ
Will Gordon
david sherman
Erin Nass
Anne Elliott
Charles Fromm
Kamui
Ill Gotten Games
Celeste
Phoebe Keith
Erin Sperduti
Alexander Johnson
KW
M.L
Theresa Kolodziej
Cheryl Rockett
Ari F
GreenAppleFields
Lee Wade
Tim Shields
Anna Krestiannykova
luxi
Scanadore
Anthony Donley
Aria Kushner
Elizabeth L Mansell
Sabrina Grimble
Elizabeth Grodin
Michael
spags
Corey Lynn Dyke
David Polichnia
Laura J Wilcox
Sami Quinn
Mike Pace
Devin Miles
Julianna Backer
Xuan Min
GiulianoB
Nipaaahh
Chase Smith
david sherman
Robert Pruitt
SpeakOfTheJoker
JESSICA R SULLIVAN
Lui Bomett
TheKerBear
TSWILL20
Sara Lauter
James Pellosma
Donald Eckels
Lucka Kelbl
Ryan James
Kamirose
Leto
Christina Schwam
Phairat
Eduardo Preciado
Alex
Victoria Richards
Andy
Scott Hartranft
Marissa Holman
Lachi
Marisa Aldridge
Lucy McGlasson
GR Kulikowsky
Daniel Fowler
Jessie van Heuven
Björn Gustafsson
Wes
Kirsty Avidano
Ragnhild
Brandon Metheny
eri

Thank you so much for helping make these videos possible!

If you'd like your name here or featured at the end of an episode, you can become a sponsor at https://www.patreon.com/animalwonders

--

Looking for more awesome animal stuff?
Subscribe to Animal Wonders Montana to see all of our videos!
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Anmlwndrs

Other places to find us:
Website: http://www.animalwonders.org
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/animalwonders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwondersmontana/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/animalwonders
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Animal_Wonders
Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3HRAS9HGP5AIF
Hi everyone, this is Jessi from Animal Wonders sharing a  special moment from the other night with you.

Lollipop the striped skunk is 9 and a half years  old, which is very old for a skunk. While each and   every animal that comes into my life is important,  Lollipop takes up a really large space in my heart.

I’ve been spending quiet moments each night with Lollipop for the last few weeks. Each night I check on her to see  how she’s doing and sometimes all   she wants to do is curl up in  my lap for some gentle petting. And other nights, she wants to run through the halls of the compound exploring.

The hard truth is that Lollipop  is coming to the end of her life   and I’m going through the process of grieving. Grief is no stranger to those who  care for animals and most of us   will experience it at some points in  our lives, some less and some more. The interesting thing about my relationship with  grief is that it never feels the same way twice.

Each time I lose someone I care for,  the grief I experience feels new. In her life, Lollipop has brought me such  joy and has filled my days with happiness,   and I’ve gotten to share my love with  her for over 9 years. How lucky am I?

And now, she’s taking me on a new  adventure exploring my emotions   and thoughts around the end of a loved one's life. I wanted to share what I’ve discovered  with you as we sit with Lollipop,   just being present with her, experiencing  life together, however it comes. When someone you love enters into  their golden years you become more   aware of the limited time you have left with them.

You start to think about making  sure you get quality time with them. And sometimes I’ve tried to pretend time doesn’t  march on and they will simply live forever. And then you experience the last  few months of their life with them,   which can be incredibly hard.

It can hurt to see the one you love struggle to do   the things they enjoy doing and  used to be able to do with ease. It can be painful seeing them  living in pain or confusion. It’s in these moments that you know  you’ve lost something you held dear.

You’re losing your loved one and there’s  nothing that you can do so stop it. But in those moments of sadness or desperation,  sitting quietly with Lollipop and just being   present with her has given me the  words that I want to share with you. It is an honor, a privilege, to get to be with  your loved one during this time.

You only get   to experience this hard time by first sharing a deep relationship  with them and loving them a whole lot. Sure, the last few months are not like the rest,  but when you start thinking how hard it is,   know that you are giving them the gift of being  there with them during their hardest moments. You are giving back to them the joy,   and companionship that they gave to you  for all the years you spent together.

What a beautiful way to repay  your friend for their friendship. So, instead of trying to push away my feelings or  stop myself from crying in the middle of the day,   this time I’m embracing all of  the emotions that come with grief. What a wonderful thing to get to experience these  sometimes overwhelming moments of pure emotion.

And in allowing myself to cry when I feel like  crying, and laughing when I feel like laughing, and sitting and staring into nothing  when that’s all I feel like doing,   I’ve realized that every emotion I’m feeling  is because I simply allowed myself to love. And my love is pouring out in all sorts of ways,   some expected and some  unexpected. It is okay to allow yourself to feel whatever  feelings come along.

With love comes grief   and both are wonderful and weird and I’m thankful that I get to experience them with Lollipop. Lollipop has been such an incredible  ambassador for her species. Breaking   down stereotypes against her species and  generally bringing joy to everyone who meets her.

What a dang honor it is to know this very special gal. Lollipop, I’ll love you forever.