Our incredibly smart, sweet and beautiful mammoth donkey Nutmeg passed away quite suddenly Jan. 2, 2006. She had just turned 6 on Christmas Day. Something neurological happened, we don't know. She was my Nutty-Buddy, one of my best friends ever. This is a crushing blow.

Nutmeg lived with complete surrender to joy in being alive. She ate with gusto, rolled in the dirt with verve and played with utter abandon. And she made a wonderful soundtrack to go along with it all. Her amazingly sweet, deep brown eyes twinkled with impishness when she would close the gate behind one of the other donkeys, thereby trapping that girl in a stall. Her eyes smiled with love when you would hold her wonderfully fuzzy cheeks in your hands and give her a great big nose smooch. And they would droop happily heavily in sleepiness just as she would flop her great big head into your lap or waiting arms. You could hear her say “hold my head – I love you!” No day went by where Nutmeg failed to elicit a laugh, a smile and a joyful heart.

Here are some things Nutmeg taught us:

1. Use your size to your advantage if food – especially cookies – is involved.

2. But be very afraid of teensy tiny bugs.

3. Play EVERY day. If your playmate is grouchy, just keep nipping until they get in the play mood.

4. Never ever pass up a chance to play a joke on a friend.

We will miss her more than words could begin to express. She was, literally, joy personified (donkified?). We love you and miss you Nutty. You will always live in our hearts, where you brought us all more joy than we would have thought possible.

Virginia, Van, Edie, Chloe and Vickie