My wife and I rescued a guinea pig over six years ago. My initial reaction was not the best to be honest: Why are we taking in a one year old rodent???
But we grew attached to the little guy over the past six and a half years.
Charlie had a personality. He would greet us, gurgle when petted and have an obvious enjoyment when running around outside of his cage. And he would impatiently demand lettuce when I was trying to write at some point late at night.
When I worked from home, the cage had to be moved so he could see me. Otherwise he would be rather vocal if I was on a conference call!
Charlie’s first home was with four young children that treated him as a toy. We knew this was not a good environment for him.
Charlie’s original name was “Chocolate“.
Since we already had a cat named Frankie, Charlie seemed a more appropriate name.
The poor guy was traumatized when he first came to us due to being around such a stressful environment for the first year of his life.
Furniture was chewed, he frequently chattered his teeth, he did not want to be petted and he hid a lot.
But once he realized his life was for the better, I think he grew to enjoy his new home. He turned into a vocal and affectionate animal full of personality.
Sadly, Charlie had to be euthanized.
His health declined in the past week rapidly. He could no longer jump and run. He no longer greeted us.
He was essentially bed ridden and his quality of life was not there. We had to feed him by hand. He just lay still all day.
At seven and a half years old, he had a long life for a guinea pig.
And I’d like to think a good one.
I half joke that some cultural DNA is making me want to have ziti and eggplant with maybe some sausage and peppers, too.
A sad event happens? You gather with friends and family together after the death. Stories are told, laughs are shared and comfort food is enjoyed. We don’t mourn the death; we celebrate the life.
Being Charlie, perhaps eating a huge and leafy salad would be more appropriate…
Funny how pets affect us.
And we really don’t realize it until they are gone.
But the memories never go away, do they?