CALIFORNIA POTBELLIED PIG ASSOCIATION, Inc.
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Ode to Riff
Editor's Note: This is the finish to “The Sheriff of Rottingham” story.
Riff’s body finally failed him on January 30, 2012. He had blessed our
home with his presence for just short of 18 years and was probably over
2O years of age. We were shocked, that when word went out of his
passing, how many people he had affected. We received condolence
letters from people who seemed to understand him as well as we imagined
we did. The “Ode” was written by an animal communicator who had
volunteered to work with animals in our rescue. We, Riff and Carol all
met at about the same time in April of 1994, when Riff joined our first
pig TS Piggliot as the start of our small herd of porcines. Carol has
remained a dear friend to us and our animals ever since.
Riff. A pig of many talents who will be sorely missed by his family and many, many others.
“I want to be a Proper Pig.” This was Riff’s main message the first day that I met him. We can all agree that he mastered “Proper Pig” this lifetime. TS was an excellent mentor, instructing Riff beautifully on pigness and other important things. An ailing TS prepared Riff to take over seamlessly, keeping the busy Christensen household running as it should. And this was the beginning of Riff’s benevolent reign - a very successful reign indeed, keeping a multitude of creatures in line by using his intelligence, his humor, and his pigheaded approach to problem solving. Anyone who knows Chris and Marcie knows that this is no small task but Riff was the pig for it!
Riff faced many obstacles this life with his spina bifida and troubled beginnings. Once he found his way to Chris and Marcie he was able to become who he was born to be, enjoying himself immensely as he carefully took in the world around him. It was a joy to see Riffers evolve into himself, giving (and receiving!) absolute love to Chris and Marcie as he perfected the art of snuggling, reading, watching TV, eating Hot Tamales, and efficiently bossing everyone around.
So, this is my Ode To Riff, who became the most proper of Proper Pigs. I am honored to have known him.
Much love,
Carol
"The paradise of my fancy is one where pigs have wings." G. K. Chesterton
ODE TO THE SHERIFF OF ROTTINGHAM
by Carol Wright
by Carol Wright
Riff. A pig of many talents who will be sorely missed by his family and many, many others.
“I want to be a Proper Pig.” This was Riff’s main message the first day that I met him. We can all agree that he mastered “Proper Pig” this lifetime. TS was an excellent mentor, instructing Riff beautifully on pigness and other important things. An ailing TS prepared Riff to take over seamlessly, keeping the busy Christensen household running as it should. And this was the beginning of Riff’s benevolent reign - a very successful reign indeed, keeping a multitude of creatures in line by using his intelligence, his humor, and his pigheaded approach to problem solving. Anyone who knows Chris and Marcie knows that this is no small task but Riff was the pig for it!
Riff faced many obstacles this life with his spina bifida and troubled beginnings. Once he found his way to Chris and Marcie he was able to become who he was born to be, enjoying himself immensely as he carefully took in the world around him. It was a joy to see Riffers evolve into himself, giving (and receiving!) absolute love to Chris and Marcie as he perfected the art of snuggling, reading, watching TV, eating Hot Tamales, and efficiently bossing everyone around.
So, this is my Ode To Riff, who became the most proper of Proper Pigs. I am honored to have known him.
Much love,
Carol
"The paradise of my fancy is one where pigs have wings." G. K. Chesterton