Myria has an interesting theory. She feels that no matter how much objective time (if there even is such a thing) a life occupies from birth to death, all lifetimes are equal. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about mayflies (about a day) or Galapagos tortoises (200-300 years).
We acquired Snap in October of 2005. She came home to our apartment with another pair of gerbils (Crackle and Pop), just a tiny, white little thing. Well, they were all tiny and, for a time, all lived together in the same tank. We were under the impression that they were all sisters from the same litter. This turned out not to be the case :)
She was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most driven and energetic gerbils I’ve ever had the opportunity to observe.
But she wasn’t all work. She had a deep and abiding fondness for slivered almonds and unsalted pumpkin seeds. One of those in her food bowl would send her into paroxysms of joy and she would whisk the coveted tidbit into a corner where she would turn and face out into the tank. Then, backside protected, she would grasp the morsel with both forepaws and proceed to nibble it into extinction, tail twitching ever so slightly and eyes-half closed in sheer bliss.
What should you give a gerbil for Christmas?
A third birthday…
A couple of weeks ago, we began noticing that Snap seemed to be slowing down. She wasn’t chewing up her toys nearly as quickly and she had been. In fact she was only partially breaking them down and then abandoning them, leaving oddly sculpted cardboard structures sitting in the middle of the tank. She wasn’t paying attention to her toilette any more either; her coat was getting dirty and scruffy and she didn’t seem to care. She began to have difficulty getting around as though her coordination was deserting her and she slept a great deal more than usual.
She left us yesterday afternoon.
As with any pet, I am grateful for the time we had together. She got a warm home, more than enough food (including items she would never have run across in her native Mongolia - or even at the pet store, for that matter) and materials to manipulate according to her instincts and imagination. I got to observe the life and times of a gerbil genius and am grateful to have had the opportunity to do so.
A small life is not worth less just because it is small. And I think I begin to understand what Myria means about all lifetimes being equal. Each of them - mayfly, gerbil, human, tortoise - is exactly one lifetime long.
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My thoughts go out to you at your loss. Animals - dog, cat, horse, gerbil… - have a wonderful ability to touch and enrich our lives. They are remarkable souls, and you put into words beautifully. I recently lost my fussy old cat after 16 years, and his decline was similar, if more drawn out, and I find that I still miss the little things about having him around.
Anna - I discovered, quite to my surprise, that when I moved out of my parents house to live on my own - the thing I missed the most was having an animal. I could live happily without television but not without a pet :)
I’m sorry to hear about your cat; I can imagine what a friend to you he must have been.
Now, see, this is why TMK won’t let me have any rodents for pets. I’ve had them in the past, and it takes me just as long to recover from losing one of those little fellers as it took me to recover from losing my cats. Which, by the way, is a looooooong time.
Sleep well, Snap.
Robbyn, what a beautiful tribute to a tiny little critter. I’m sorry you lost Snap. She had a full life, but it was still too short, I know.
I am very sorry to hear about that little darling. In fact I am crying while writing this. I could never stand to hear about an animal dying, especially when it had brough so much joy to its human companion. I have 3 cats, one of whom is almost 20, and I am getting a dog next spring. I could write for ages about it but only someone who has lost an animal friend, no matter how small it was, can understand how it feels to lose a pet. I am sure Snap is happy in the Gerbil’s heaven and that one day she will be with you again. This is what I hope will happen to me too with my pets. Hugssssss.
Ryan - You know, I thought about you when I was writing this morning :)
I don’t believe it’s a bad, nor is it a small thing, to take a life - any life - seriously.
That said, rodents are tough because they don’t have very long lives. Still, you know that’s part of the deal when you make the bargain - and I have found it to be worth it :)
Chris - I’m sure you must go through this with the buns though I know they’re not rodents. Thanks for the nice words :)
Laura - Thanks for your kind words. I think we do it, despite the cost, because no one loves us so uncritically as our animals.
And I think I agree with you - or at least hope the same - that the loss of any pet isn’t a permanent parting.
I feel that pet owners are in some way witnesses to the lives of their pets, in much the same way that spouses are witnesses to one another’s lives.
Snap was lucky to have you. Her life was full of excitement (possibly some of her own making, even!), and food, and warmth, and love.
What more could she have possibly wanted?
think liberally in the use of the word spouse - partner, lover, companion…
Love is, in the end, love.
Diane - The witnessing aspect - I hadn’t thought about it that way. I’m glad you mentioned it.
And yes, I firmly believe that. Love is love :)
The witnessing is what it is all about for me. That is why it is hard to retire from work, walk away from relationships. It is because in relationships, you witness each other struggle with challenges; watch each other grow older, change; share an aspect of their lives that few others would have in common with you. Love for me is in great part: “I have witnessed what you have lived through and it happened and it was good. Thank you for sharing part of your life with me”
Big hugs to you and your insightful Myria
Awww...Goodbye, Snap! So sorry you lost your furry friend.
Nat - Is that a *I saw you - your life didn’t go unnoticed* kind of thing? Under the circumstances, I find that very appropriate!
umm, i have just had to explain to one of my assistants at work that i was snivelling over snap- an animal lover himself he found the actions perfectly normal-
we are blessed with many many furry family members and whenever one slips away a great chunk of our hearts go with that one- i think that pets are the great blessings in our lives- they accept our oddities, give endless joy, and never try to change us- no matter how small the pet, the sadness at the passing is great, and i love the remarks:“I have witnessed what you have lived through and it happened and it was good. Thank you for sharing part of your life with me"and “I saw you - your life didn’t go unnoticed"- incredibly beautiful words to celebrate a happy little gerbil’s life-
stay happy-
Oh rest in peace sweet Snap. *sniffle*
Barb - Bless all the little ones who’ve accompanied us through our lives. I could never believe humans and animals weren’t intended to live together. I just hope that their end of the bargain is as satifying as ours is :)
Opal - Thanks, sweetie - especially since I know you have so recently gone through the same thing. Perhaps Snap is teasing Onyx in a vast and never-ending cosmic game of tag!
