Tommy Remembered

Artist: amarica
previous browse art next

Card: US$3.42
Print: from US$17.10

Tommy Remembered

Tommy was our first iguana. Until we got Tommy we had no idea how smart they are or how great it was to have one for a friend.

Tommy was about 18 inches long when we got him and he was calm for the first three days. Then he let loose with a wild streak and the fun began. It was my job to gain his trust and it was quite a job.

I would wear long sleeves and hold him with a towel to protect myself from his tiny claws in case he tried to get away. I put a leash on him to protect him from escaping somewhere in the house and possibly having someone step on his tiny body and injuring him. I talked to him until I ran out of things to say.

Then I began to tell him the story of The Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelation. That took a couple of months. By then he had taken a liking to me and was much calmer. I always put him in the bathtub so that he could take care of business and not mess up his room. Iguanas are very smart and they like to be clean. I even baptised him and gave him a new name.

The first name he had was “Tommy”, a name suggested by my husband’s niece. Then we added “Wild Thing” due to his temporary wild streak he went through. A few days into the leash and he got under the sofa and managed to get loose from the leash, so we added “Houdini” to his list of names. Well, of course we had adopted him so his last name was “Pride”. So now that he was baptised we added “Christian” to his names.

He became “Tommy Wild Thing Houdini Pride Christian” and he had a big fan club. So many people loved him that he had regualr visitors who dropped by just to pet him and talk to him.

We moved from a Lake area in California to the mountains about 6000 ft. level. We did not know that pine is poison to iguanas, as is oak and cedar.

Tommy was about 5 years old when we moved. We would take him outside and stay with him so he could get sun and exercise.

One day after we had been there about a year, I had him outside and he was basking in the son on a large stand that we had built for him for that purpose. I ran into the house for a minute to take care of an emergency. I returned quickly and he was missing. I panicked and began calling him. With the help of my boy we found him up a pine tree about 40 feet.

My heart sunk. My husband was out of town in San Francisco and could not get back to help get Tommy down. My neighbors lent a huge light to shine up into the tree through the night keep an eye on Tommy. I called Henry Lizardlover (that is his real name). Henry is famous for his pictures of iguanas and has over thirty that live with him in his home. Henry suggested he might be able to bring Hasboro, his big male lizard up to maybe entice Tommy to come down…male territory, etc. But Henry was tied up and could not come up right away.

I was desperate. I cried. I prayed. Nothing worked. Friends brought their binoculars so I could watch him up close. The birds flew around him and pestered him, but he remained calm.

On the 5th day, I saw an electric line repair truck with a lift on it. I flagged down the driver and told him my story. He was wonderful. He pulled the truck up to the tree and took me up on the lift in the hopes of reaching out and taking Tommy off the limb he was out on by now.

As I reached for Tommy, he panicked and moved forward and the limb broke. Time slowed down for me as I saw him plummeting to the ground. I felt helpless and sick at the same time. I screamed “Nooooooo!” And then he landed on the ground, appeared dazed but alive. My boy opened the back door to the house and Tommy ran into the house to safety.

My husband came home the next day. It was the weekend and we could not get Tommy to a vet until Monday. In the wild they are known to leap 40 or 50 feet to the ground to make it to safety from predators. But still we wanted to have him checked out by the vet.

Tommy seemed friendlier than usual. He would come and lay on my chest or my husbands and snuggle close to us. Normally he was more independent than that, preferring to be petted and then returning to his room to bask. But now he wanted to be cuddled.

Sunday night we had all gone to bed when I heard a noise downstairs where Tommy slept. I went to check on him and he did a massive roll. I cried out for my husband to come quickly. I took Tommy out of his room and held him. He seemed really calm. I laid him on a chair and made him comfortable wrapped in a warm blanket. A few minutes later he did another hard jerk and a roll and we both let out a yell…”No!”

Then we realized we were losing him and our hearts shared in the sharp pains of watching him as the light went out in his eyes. We could not believe he was gone. Tommy was too tough to die…we just could not let go. I wrapped him in a baby blanket and laid him in a soft place in my office. We went to bed and held each other and cried until the morning. We both kept hoping and praying Tommy would be awake and well when we went back to him in the morning. Maybe he was just in a coma and would wake up.

But he was not and he did not. We had his funeral and said our prayers and gave our trust for his spirit into the hands of God.

Tommy was special and he was our first. But after having him, we found our lives were never quite complete without an iguana in our home.

To Tommy with love.

If you would like to see early pictures of Tommy, Please click here

Here he is a still little
______

Images Do Not Belong To The Public Domain.
All images and writings are the copyright of the artist – © amari, amarica. All Rights Reserved.
Copying, altering, displaying, distributing and/or selling any image without prior written consent from the artist is strictly prohibited and subject to any and all legal remedies.
________

Layers of Fractal images with photo and PS Fractalius, Photomatrix hdr enhanced

Hope you don’t mind. I lightened this image from the first upload. I like the lighter image. Tommy was a bright light in our lives and that is how we remember him.

Tommy Remembered belongs to the following groups:

ABSTRACT DIGITAL ART AND WRITING, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Bits and Pieces , California Sound , Dearly Departed, Green!, HDR Photography, Live, Love, Dream, Petshop CS2, Reptiles and Amphibians, Safe Haven, Spiritual Art, Vibrant and Vivid Color and Waves

linaji, 2 months ago

I remember the sweet story and photo.. I love Tommy!
amarica in reply to linaji’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Lina. You have such a tender heart. xxxx
CanDuCreations, 2 months ago

A touching story and beautiful work
Dayonda, 2 months ago

It’s an awesomepic of him, and I really, really am sorry that he didn’t live with his loving family for many more long years. You love him still, and he’ll be there to greet you wne you’re called Home. But each friend and family member is missed every day of our lives, and I’m truely sorry for his and for your other friends’ earthly deaths.
cherylc1, 2 months ago

beautiful!-wonderful story!
amarica in reply to CanDuCreations’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Thea. :)
amarica in reply to Dayonda’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Dayonda. You are so sweet. It is faith that keeps us going, love that holds us together and friends that remind us of how blessed we are. :) xxxx
amarica in reply to cherylc1’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Cheryl.
joak, 2 months ago

its murder when you lose your pets…...
Wzard, 2 months ago

Very nicely done
JuliaWright, 2 months ago

Wow!! so touching…....great image amarica!!!
the6tees, 2 months ago

You are haveing me in teer’s agian ann,
What a hartworming story!!!
MKWhite, 2 months ago

I love lizards, I’ve had an Iguana, Emerald Swift, Chineese Water Dragon, several chameleons and a bearded dragon. It’s amazing how much personality they all have. We use to own a panther chameleon who I nicknamed houdini because he would escape just about every enclosure we had for him.

Thank you for sharing Tommy’s story, it was very touching and I love the fractals work you did on his photo. Excellent job all the way around :)
Maximus, 2 months ago

Ann, this is just gorgeous. He was very lucky to have you as his mum. :)
HELUA, 2 months ago

A lovely story, Amarica! Thank you !!!!!
lianne, 2 months ago

What a beautiful and touching story Ann – and just a beautiful work in tribute to a beloved pet. This is truly remarkable art work!
Gabriele Swans..., 2 months ago

awwww how beautiful..love this
Marie Sharp, 2 months ago

Precious tribute to your wonderful little pet. They come into our lives and always have a place in our heart.
Tainia Finlay, 2 months ago

This is very touching amari, you obviously love him dearly. It’s devastating when we loose someone we love. You have done him proud with your beautiful image and tribute xx
Trudi ~, 2 months ago

Such a lovely treatment , and a lovely way to remember your friend Ann
Jen Whyte, 2 months ago

What a wonderful tribute to a dearly loved pet!
Sally Omar, 2 months ago

Ann, A beautiful tribute to a wonderful pet…Hugs, Sally xxxxoooo
Kelly Bermingham, 2 months ago

Oh my .. im crying. what a beautiful tribute amarica… bless his little heart… x
dawndavies, 2 months ago

so sorry of your loss, they are great pets and have a tremendous character, my uncle had onecalled charle and he was wonderful,dawnx
Kenny Gulley Jr., 2 months ago

super cool image!
he’s no iguana, he’s a dragon!
amarica in reply to joak’s comment, 2 months ago

It surely is. But I would not give up a moment of our time with them. xxxx
amarica in reply to Wzard’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Wizard.
amarica in reply to JuliaWright’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Julia
amarica in reply to the6tees’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Rose. Having Tommy in our lives made it all worth while. He gave us many laughs, much love and great joy. xxxx
amarica in reply to MKWhite’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Michael. and thank you for sharing your story of your great reptile family. We have found they are each unique and have their own likes and dislikes. Their personalities are as unique as their appetites. hugzzz
jennyfnf, 2 months ago

A special tribute to a very special friend. How you loved him:-)
amarica in reply to Maximus’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Max. xxxx
Marvin Collins, 2 months ago

Beautiful work, and great tribute!!
amarica in reply to HELUA’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Helua.
amarica in reply to lianne’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Lianne. His spirit was bright and beautiful. hugzzzz xxx
amarica in reply to Gabriele Swanson IPA’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Gabriele
amarica in reply to Marie Sharp’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Marie. Yes they do and we would be lost without all these wonderful beings in our lives. xxxxx
amarica in reply to Tainia Finlay’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Tainia. When we have love and we share it with others, our lives are magnified by their outgoing spirits and the warmth they share with us. hugzzz xxxx
amarica in reply to Trudi ~’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Trudi. xxxx
amarica in reply to Jen Whyte’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Jen.
amarica in reply to Sally Omar’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Sally. xxxx
amarica in reply to Kelly Bermingham’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Kelly. It still moves me to tears too. xxxxx
amarica in reply to dawndavies’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Dawn. You are so right. xxxxx
amarica in reply to Kenny Gulley Jr.’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Kenny. Yes we did sometimes call him “our little dragon” but he was lovable like “Puff, the magic dragon.”
amarica in reply to jennyfnf’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Jenny
amarica in reply to Marvin Collins’s comment, 2 months ago

Thank you Marvin.
ciege622, 2 months ago

I love the effect on it!
RMonroe, about 1 month ago

Excellent, love this:)
dc witmer, about 1 month ago

wow, very moving story, but a great tribute to Tommy. well done
lurline, about 1 month ago

Fascinating image! :)
amarica in reply to ciege622’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Danae
amarica in reply to RMonroe’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Robin
amarica in reply to dc witmer’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you DC. :)
amarica in reply to lurline’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Lurline.
Steven Agius, about 1 month ago

Awesome effect very creative work, well done.
Gary L. Suddath, about 1 month ago

thanks for sharing thats a wonderful tribute…..It’d kill me to lose one of my babies
Idil, about 1 month ago

Wonderful artwork and tribute. Thanks for sharing the story of Tommy – very touching.
Boban, about 1 month ago

Touching story and excellent work pretty lady ....................... B.
amarica in reply to Steven Agius’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Steven.
amarica in reply to Gary L. Suddath’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Gary, yes we felt like we were going to die.
amarica in reply to Idil’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Idil. :) xxxx
amarica in reply to Boban’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Boban.
pinkyjain, about 1 month ago

Such a sweet and loving story amarica. Wow. Remarkable, brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful photo, too, love the effect. Hugggs to you amarica
Ilunia Felczer, about 1 month ago

this was one lucky iguana, your story is so touching sorry you lost him. I know what it means to lose a pet that you love… your work is beautiful….
amarica in reply to pinkyjain’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Lisa. It still brings tears to my eyes. :)
amarica in reply to Ilunia Felczer’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thank you Ilunia. We still miss him.xxxxx