Ode to Iggy, Rainbow and Spring
As we left our home the next year and took to the road to begin support raising Iggy became more a part of our life and more a part of Caleb’s security in an ever changing world. It wasn’t too long after when on a cross country trip, Iggy found Rainbow (planted by mom) on the side of a trail in the Petrified National Forest in Arizona. It was love at first sight. The next day TRB (a stuffed cardinal named The Reward Bird) performed the wedding while we traveled through New Mexico as the assorted stuffed friends of my children looked on. Rainbow quickly developed a different and distinct personality, though Iggy remained the favorite.
It was in Branson City, Missouri, a year later, when Caleb spotted Spring and Sherbet on the clearance shelf at Silver Dollar City. He had a few dollars to spend and decided his two friends needed some friends of their own. Caleb said he had to buy two – what would Sherbet do for a wife if he didn’t buy Spring? So off the shelf, out the door and into our families hearts walked two more stuffed lizards.
When we came to Brazil he tied all four of their tails together and slung them over his shoulder to carry on the plane. He didn’t want to be parted for a moment. They most definitely were not going to be locked up in a suitcase.
They preformed Bible stories together. In one, the Christmas story, Rainbow was Mary, while the three wise lizards road various creatures to Bethlehem.
Constant companions on all of our trips, our family loved them. Each had its own personality and voice. They were Caleb’s voice and security in all the turmoil our family went through for five years from 2001-2005 as we worked on getting to and settling into Brazil.
Caleb was in tears when we discovered their loss. They will be deeply missed, for they were dearly loved.