The story of our pets, is also inextricably, the story of ourselves. Of course, the whole story is longer and bigger than could be shared in a memorial. But those of you who have been here over the last couple of years, you will have shared a few glimpses into our story, so I just wanted to give it a final telling and an ending it deserved.
I was incredibly hesitant at first, about getting a pet. I really wanted one, but I was unsure and could not make the leap. My boyfriend suggested I get a hamstere and even bought the first cage, the Peggy Metro, as a way to push me along. Boosted by this, I walked into a local pet shop and asked to see a hamster. As the shop assistant lifted this bundle of cream and white fluff to me and he blinked his eyes at me sleepily, it was instant love at first sight.
We named him Hamchan, Prince of Hams, though on an everyday basis, we called him Hamchan, and from time to time, my boyfriend would address him as Mr Hamchan. (As one gentleman speaks to another, he claimed.)
As a baby, he was energetic and curious, always climbing, jumping, and exploring. I was mesmerised and would spend ages just watching him. He was tireless until...suddenly he sat down and fell asleep... while eating a seed. One time he fell asleep on his wheel and face planted. I watched his chin slowly hit the bedding and could not help but silently laugh. He was very funny as a baby. You can read all about our early days together here.
[WIKI]http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/syrian-hamster/17515-chronicles-ham-chan.html[/WIKI]
As I work freelance and often stay up late, we would work (play) side by side. Me in my red swivel chair, he in his ever-increasing sized wheels. I would talk aloud to him, often muttering things at him. Late in the night, it would just us.
Often, he would stand at his door, or climb on the rungs and pleaded to be let out. If I pretended to ignore him, he'd chew his bars and then look at me again until I took him out for a cuddle or a play on my desk. So I made a playpen that surrounded my desk, and he would run around on the floor around my ankles. It made me laugh to see how he would explore the corners and then come back to try and climb up my ankles.
We spent many nights together - he always kept me sane.
Hamchan was also a very sociable hamster. We had different visitors and he charmed everyone he met. One time, he went out to a party and drove an AT-AT (then fell asleep in it as world domination is very tiring.) All this must have helped when we were away and he went to stay at a fellow hamster-lover's home for 6 weeks. Here he is packing his suitcase.
When we all moved into our new home with my boyfriend and my working hours changed, Hamchan and I still had play times in the evening, often on the sofa. In the new flat, there were less holes and gaps, so now he and Evie could even play freely in the hallway or bathroom. But even though he had time out, if I should walk past his cage in the middle of the night, he'd pop up as if to say, "Hey, I'm here!"
As he got older, his fluff grew quite a bit. Though he weighed around 170g, he never seemed chubby so even the vets concluded it must mostly be fluff. His fluff would get all caught up with megazorb, such that we had to brush his butt when we first take him out or he would leave a trail of bedding around the whole place.
Although I was often inclined to spoil him with many toys, he was a ham of simple joys - he liked tunnels, even any tunnel you make with a magazine, he would go through. He liked playing "hand cage" with my partner whose big hands would form a puzzle cage, and Hamchan would sit still and then suddenly poke his head out in a gap.
He continued to be a very well-behaved and gentle hamster - he often played on the bed while we read, or played on my desk while I was on the computer. He liked the click of the camera so he would pose when he heard it.
He liked to look out of the window too to see the world outside.
He was very patient, right to the end, when he grew tired, ill, had to take his meds and increasingly could not eat or drink unless when syringed to him and was clearly in discomfort and had his eyes crusted shut. He was getting quite scruffy which he must not have liked as he used to spend ages grooming his beautiful coat. He continued to be adorable though, such that the assistant at the Vet's wanted to stroke him. And of course, to my eyes, even though his eyes were crusty and his coat matted with knots and stains, he was still the most handsome man-ham I'd ever seen.
The last few days, I spent a lot of time with him, trying to get him to eat or drink. On the last morning, I wrapped him up in a towel and cuddled him in my lap for a few hours. I told him not to be afraid, that he was loved and would always be loved, and I would always think of him. And that if he had a mission and a job as a hamster, he had done an incredible job.
Then I took him to the vet's, and we spent more time together there, cuddling in the waiting room, cuddling while waiting for the vet's preparations. He seemed very tired and could hardly move. Being finally separated from him was like my heart tore apart.
My heart is broken and I am grieving deeply, though I know deep down inside, I am entirely grateful. If any hamster had a mission to bring love, he did a stellar job. We miss you every moment, Hamchan, my darling.
I think, no matter where you stray
That I shall go with you a way
Though you may wander sweeter lands,
You will not soon forget my hands.
Hamchan, Evie and I want to thank everyone at Hamster Central for all the advice and guidance over the last two years.
Hamchan, my sweet little man-ham.
. I saw your posting on FB too and I am so sorry to hear of your loss. What a beautiful memorial to a very well loved little one. What imprints they leave on our lives!!
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