Recently my pet 'urban bunny' Brandy died suddenly.
I invited nature into my home, and nature ran its course.
It was October 2008 and I was dreaming about moving to the English countryside. I was inspired by working on a BBC- TV series called 'Escape to the Country'.
And nature wasn't the only thing I was craving. Earlier that year, I'd said farewell to a significant relationship. Here I was with all this love to give away, and virtually overnight, no where for it to go. But by this time I was thinking: enough of men! I couldn't get a dog because I lived in a block of flats in London, and I'm not a cat person. So, one night after editing together a film on cute orphaned hedgehogs, I swung past a Buckinghamshire pet shop and bought my darling bunny Brandy at 9 weeks old. Who said money can't buy love?! It was the best £30 I'd spent in years. I looked after him like a baby. He arrived scared and lost. I made him feel safe and loved and he soon felt at home. In fact, he completely took over my lounge room. He breathed life into my home. Every morning when I'd come out to see him, it was like that feeling as a kid: waking up and running out to see the huge living Christmas tree that touched the ceiling. The one gift I always wanted to find under the tree was a pet to love.
And one year, that's exactly what I got. But that bunny (Cottontail) got eaten for breakfast by the neighbourhood dogs!
As an indoor bunny, Brandy couldn't run away, or become anyone's prey. And he wasn't the type to bite my head off. He was a reasonably safe bet.
I grew attached to him, which always brings a risk of loss. But he healed my heart when I needed it, and I got to pour out my love.
Then, he brought me good luck. About 6 weeks after being 'loved up' by this playful bunny, I met someone who seemed like Mr Right. (After many dramas with Mr disastrously Wrong). Legends say that rabbits are omens of good luck, especially in love.
Brandy represented purity and innocence. (And after so many dramas in my love life, this was a welcome return to my usual child-like innocence). Rabbits wouldn't hurt a flea, (well OK, only a flea). As prey animals, they just huddle together to feel safe, like sleeping head to toe to watch each other's back - and give each other love.
Before long, Brandy had chewed through a few internet wires, my PC speakers, a couple of rugs, and stank out my once hospitable, perfect entertaining lounge to high heaven. A modern London flat had turned into a barn. One friend said: "forget about wiping my feet on the way in, now I have to wipe my feet on the way OUT!" But it was all worth it. I'd watch in awe as he pounced around, leapt to his favourite spot on the sofa, did 'twisties' in mid air and had such capacity for giving affection it was beautiful. I couldn't believe how smart a rabbit could be. I house trained him like a dog. He immediately sprang into his hutch at night upon hearing 'bedtime', and he even kissed my nose when I said 'kiss kiss'. (Don't laugh - I don't talk always talk to the opposite sex like that!)
He was a bit of light fluff - and meaning in my life.
Brandy brought me joy, laughter and peace. When he was not jumpy, he brought me stillness, tenderness and contentment in the moments when I'd lay beside him and gently rub his nose and cheek and he'd lick my face and hands in return. He allowed me to pause and live in the 'here and now', and cherish each moment.
He brought me love, in more ways than one. He became a 'guinea pig' / bunny baby to express my need to nurture. Brandy even helped create a bond with my new partner, also a gentle animal lover, and had a healing effect on him aswell!
And, I had a fix of nature and wildlife that I couldn't get in London.
It was October 2008 and I was dreaming about moving to the English countryside. I was inspired by working on a BBC- TV series called 'Escape to the Country'.
And nature wasn't the only thing I was craving. Earlier that year, I'd said farewell to a significant relationship. Here I was with all this love to give away, and virtually overnight, no where for it to go. But by this time I was thinking: enough of men! I couldn't get a dog because I lived in a block of flats in London, and I'm not a cat person. So, one night after editing together a film on cute orphaned hedgehogs, I swung past a Buckinghamshire pet shop and bought my darling bunny Brandy at 9 weeks old. Who said money can't buy love?! It was the best £30 I'd spent in years. I looked after him like a baby. He arrived scared and lost. I made him feel safe and loved and he soon felt at home. In fact, he completely took over my lounge room. He breathed life into my home. Every morning when I'd come out to see him, it was like that feeling as a kid: waking up and running out to see the huge living Christmas tree that touched the ceiling. The one gift I always wanted to find under the tree was a pet to love.
And one year, that's exactly what I got. But that bunny (Cottontail) got eaten for breakfast by the neighbourhood dogs!
As an indoor bunny, Brandy couldn't run away, or become anyone's prey. And he wasn't the type to bite my head off. He was a reasonably safe bet.
I grew attached to him, which always brings a risk of loss. But he healed my heart when I needed it, and I got to pour out my love.
Then, he brought me good luck. About 6 weeks after being 'loved up' by this playful bunny, I met someone who seemed like Mr Right. (After many dramas with Mr disastrously Wrong). Legends say that rabbits are omens of good luck, especially in love.
Brandy represented purity and innocence. (And after so many dramas in my love life, this was a welcome return to my usual child-like innocence). Rabbits wouldn't hurt a flea, (well OK, only a flea). As prey animals, they just huddle together to feel safe, like sleeping head to toe to watch each other's back - and give each other love.
Before long, Brandy had chewed through a few internet wires, my PC speakers, a couple of rugs, and stank out my once hospitable, perfect entertaining lounge to high heaven. A modern London flat had turned into a barn. One friend said: "forget about wiping my feet on the way in, now I have to wipe my feet on the way OUT!" But it was all worth it. I'd watch in awe as he pounced around, leapt to his favourite spot on the sofa, did 'twisties' in mid air and had such capacity for giving affection it was beautiful. I couldn't believe how smart a rabbit could be. I house trained him like a dog. He immediately sprang into his hutch at night upon hearing 'bedtime', and he even kissed my nose when I said 'kiss kiss'. (Don't laugh - I don't talk always talk to the opposite sex like that!)
He was a bit of light fluff - and meaning in my life.
Brandy brought me joy, laughter and peace. When he was not jumpy, he brought me stillness, tenderness and contentment in the moments when I'd lay beside him and gently rub his nose and cheek and he'd lick my face and hands in return. He allowed me to pause and live in the 'here and now', and cherish each moment.
He brought me love, in more ways than one. He became a 'guinea pig' / bunny baby to express my need to nurture. Brandy even helped create a bond with my new partner, also a gentle animal lover, and had a healing effect on him aswell!
And, I had a fix of nature and wildlife that I couldn't get in London.
But with nature comes seasons and cycles: Birth, Death, Renewal.
Brandy would have been 2 years old in August, when rabbits can actually live 5-8 years and beyond. His life was short and sweet.
They may be wrong when they say 'You can't buy love'. But they're right when they say 'Life is short'. I miss him and his fiesty personality.
Around the time Brandy died, I was up writing in the middle of the night and a catterpillar slid across my desk. I let it out on the window sill, thinking it was now set free to blossom as a butterfly. A few days later, I came home to find a single butterfly hovering outside my front door. I even filmed it, for a whole 12 minutes. It just stayed there, flying around me.
Then, by chance, I came across a notebook with a picture of an orange butterfly on the cover, which read:
The Butterfly
counts not months
but moments
and has
time enough.
- Rabindranath Tagore
Bunnies and butterflies live each moment fully and wonderously.
Nature paid a brief visit to my London city life, but left its precious, indelible mark of purity, love and healing.
And that, is timeless.
And that, is timeless.
Bunny photograph + text © Myfanwy Marshall 2010.
Against animal cruelty (e.g. bunnies)? Check out: PETA.org.uk (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Also keep in mind all the companies who care about the welfare of animals, such as LUSH. http://www.peta.org.uk/features/easy-way-to-go-cruelty-free/
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