herbi7
01-27-2016, 01:56 PM
My special explorer and mountaineer has gone to the rainbow bridge. You died as you lived, bravely and with gentle grace. Despite my inexperience and many mistakes when I first adopted you, you never bit me, although you tutted a lot, till the end!
My impatient, strong-willed, gentle, sensitive, funny hamster. I can't believe you've gone, so abruptly, leaving such a massive emptiness behind you. I clear up the chaos which has always been part of being your friend and miss you so much. You were the most demanding hamster, I discovered that despite my best efforts we couldn't share the same room as the minute you were up, you were off! Monkey-barring, chewing, showing me so much of that lovely white tummy while you spread-eagled yourself and made as much noise as possible while you did everything to get my attention. It was a battle of wills which I lost, like all our battles. You ended up in the other room, holding audience like the queen and waiting patiently for me to come through for our playtime. It was never long enough for you, you were on a mission to scale the world and our four walls were just too small. But we had such fun once we'd worked out an assault course that suited you, and in the year and two months I cared for you, I caught you mid-air about 20 times a day as you launched yourself joyfully into space. I wouldn't say you were a relaxing companion. But in a way, you were, as I couldn't think about anything else while we were together. I told you all my news, whether you were asleep or awake, and occasionally your little nose would come out and say 'did you say playtime...?' I always felt bad putting you back. Your face would fall and your ears drop to half mast as you realized you weren't going to get one more zoom and fly out of your cage door onto my hands. You'd chatter your teeth, fiddle with your food, show me your tummy again while I gave you your after playtime treat. And then as I moved away, back you'd go on the bars and I'd hear 'I'm a HAMSTER! So I need to get OUUUUUUUUUT!' Willow, you were such hard work. But such a sweet, gentle friend.
I remember your eyes brightening when you realized it was me. Your ears pricking with happiness as you got ready to come out and play. Your little happy face as I gave you your favourite porridge, or butternut squash, or some special after playtime seeds. I remember your little Willow kisses, always given in haste as you zoomed past, a little brush against my leg with your scent glands or a nudge with your nose, a little squeak and a nose against my face or neck when you climbed me, while you were saying 'this is fun.... can we go up your bathrobe up the back of the door?' I'd hold it tight in a tunnel for you to scramble up, higher and higher, till your nose popped out at the top and I'd catch you as you let go backwards with all four paws. You learnt to understand me as I said 'Willow, steady....! Or 'Wait for me!!' And hang on tight, waiting for me to come and catch you from wherever you'd clambered up to, face turned round to where you knew I'd be. Some nights were a compromise, as I was tired, and I'd try and remove all obstacles and places you could scale so we could have a quieter time. But you quickly got bored. My carpet will never be the same again. You died before we could try out the hemp mat that I hoped might keep you chewing happily without risk of harm. I love my nightie with the holes in. The socks with the holes in. The sheets and pillowcases with the holes in. And the holey curtains that were also so good for climbing inside the hem of, and nesting!
You loved our times in the caravan, clinging to me a bit for reassurance while you explored so much newness! You introduced yourself to the neighbours, your little head and ears popping up from beneath the nets as you zoomed along the windowsills. I remember a man's delighted smile as he said to his wife, 'Look, there's a hamster!' They were our happiest times, together with so many evenings in my room, during the time when we'd both got comfortable with each other and knew what to expect. I guess that trust had grown. Here's the last time you scaled the back of your cage and went exploring on the top, just a few days before you died. You were slow, and sleepy, but still so pretty and bright-eyed.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah185/alioao12/2016-01/th_VIDEO0005_zpsefzi4gvr.mp4 (http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah185/alioao12/2016-01/VIDEO0005_zpsefzi4gvr.mp4)
I miss you, Wills.
My impatient, strong-willed, gentle, sensitive, funny hamster. I can't believe you've gone, so abruptly, leaving such a massive emptiness behind you. I clear up the chaos which has always been part of being your friend and miss you so much. You were the most demanding hamster, I discovered that despite my best efforts we couldn't share the same room as the minute you were up, you were off! Monkey-barring, chewing, showing me so much of that lovely white tummy while you spread-eagled yourself and made as much noise as possible while you did everything to get my attention. It was a battle of wills which I lost, like all our battles. You ended up in the other room, holding audience like the queen and waiting patiently for me to come through for our playtime. It was never long enough for you, you were on a mission to scale the world and our four walls were just too small. But we had such fun once we'd worked out an assault course that suited you, and in the year and two months I cared for you, I caught you mid-air about 20 times a day as you launched yourself joyfully into space. I wouldn't say you were a relaxing companion. But in a way, you were, as I couldn't think about anything else while we were together. I told you all my news, whether you were asleep or awake, and occasionally your little nose would come out and say 'did you say playtime...?' I always felt bad putting you back. Your face would fall and your ears drop to half mast as you realized you weren't going to get one more zoom and fly out of your cage door onto my hands. You'd chatter your teeth, fiddle with your food, show me your tummy again while I gave you your after playtime treat. And then as I moved away, back you'd go on the bars and I'd hear 'I'm a HAMSTER! So I need to get OUUUUUUUUUT!' Willow, you were such hard work. But such a sweet, gentle friend.
I remember your eyes brightening when you realized it was me. Your ears pricking with happiness as you got ready to come out and play. Your little happy face as I gave you your favourite porridge, or butternut squash, or some special after playtime seeds. I remember your little Willow kisses, always given in haste as you zoomed past, a little brush against my leg with your scent glands or a nudge with your nose, a little squeak and a nose against my face or neck when you climbed me, while you were saying 'this is fun.... can we go up your bathrobe up the back of the door?' I'd hold it tight in a tunnel for you to scramble up, higher and higher, till your nose popped out at the top and I'd catch you as you let go backwards with all four paws. You learnt to understand me as I said 'Willow, steady....! Or 'Wait for me!!' And hang on tight, waiting for me to come and catch you from wherever you'd clambered up to, face turned round to where you knew I'd be. Some nights were a compromise, as I was tired, and I'd try and remove all obstacles and places you could scale so we could have a quieter time. But you quickly got bored. My carpet will never be the same again. You died before we could try out the hemp mat that I hoped might keep you chewing happily without risk of harm. I love my nightie with the holes in. The socks with the holes in. The sheets and pillowcases with the holes in. And the holey curtains that were also so good for climbing inside the hem of, and nesting!
You loved our times in the caravan, clinging to me a bit for reassurance while you explored so much newness! You introduced yourself to the neighbours, your little head and ears popping up from beneath the nets as you zoomed along the windowsills. I remember a man's delighted smile as he said to his wife, 'Look, there's a hamster!' They were our happiest times, together with so many evenings in my room, during the time when we'd both got comfortable with each other and knew what to expect. I guess that trust had grown. Here's the last time you scaled the back of your cage and went exploring on the top, just a few days before you died. You were slow, and sleepy, but still so pretty and bright-eyed.
http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah185/alioao12/2016-01/th_VIDEO0005_zpsefzi4gvr.mp4 (http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah185/alioao12/2016-01/VIDEO0005_zpsefzi4gvr.mp4)
I miss you, Wills.