I got back from Spain last night...to an empty house, note from my partner effectively leaving me & telling me Pumpkin has passed on...welcome home!
I went upstairs and he was wrapped up in tissue...i picked him up and he gasped for air...paralyzed...i think he must have had a stroke...but he hadnt gone.
I put him on a hot water bottle and told him to pass to the bridge...that it wasn't scary and that I wouldn't be alone...that it was ok for him to go...i know it seems silly but i feel he maybe hung on for me to return, he was fine all week..had all week and the night but he hung on until i got back.
I stayed with him but when i went in his room this morning he had passed. Im glad he did because i felt so helpless.
I never planned to get Pumpkin...i had been in my new house only 2 months then on the 1st November 2009 me and my friend decided to go look at the big pet store. He was so tiny...little cream banded guy...he was so sweet...but initially he didn't catch my eye...
A lil 6 yr old kid literally walked in, pointed to the hammy i was mlling over and then he was up and gone....pumpkin kept trying to climb into the box and the shop person just brushed him away...he was mine from then on. My friend had an empty cage..this was all before i knew much about hammies and we were going to share him...pumpkin spent a few weeks with her but then he became more my lil man.
He has never been easy. Bar chewer...bored easily...he had a wire cage, bin cage and a zoozone. He seemed happiest in the zoozone. His monkey barring got him confussion few months back and i know he missed it but his wheel..when i gave him that back he loved it.
Have some funny memories of him...we took everyone up to hadrians wall and the hams were all in our room..pumpkin was going crazy on the bars..we couldn't sleep so we wove cardboard in and out the bars...well he went mental on them too! It was like it gave him more of a challenge and he went at the cardboard with so much gusto!In the morning there was nothing left apart from little piles of shredded card on the floor.
I loved putting him on my shoulder and leaning over...he liked to slide down my back..he spread his paws out and edged himself over and slid down and then plop! He would run back onto my lap and id do it again...he must have liked it was i didnt force him to slide down and he always ran back round!
Pumpkin my sweet, we never had the cuddliest relationship but you never failed to make me smile, exploring your puzzle playground, running in your pringles tube..life has been really tough for me....the last few weeks horrible..but your simple love kept me going..you never question me, never shout at me, you are always there, you give and expect nothing back..you are company when im all alone, you listen and dont judge..thank you little one...you were so wonderful the angels got jealous and wanted you for themselves..your life was not as long as it should have been but i feel honoured that you let me into your life and chose me.
Sleep well my friend xxxxxx