"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

Thursday, May 24, 2012

One Less Smile

We suffered a death in the family. It happened two days after I left to have my bionic upgrade. We were on our way to dinner when I got the phone call.

Peanut died. He was Boo's hamster; her first love.

So I couldn't be there as she cried over the phone. I couldn't hold her as her heart broke. And I wasn't next to her when she asked me why it hurt so much.

I cried and I hurt with her. But I had seen it coming. Peanut hadn't been himself in weeks. He wasn't filling his wheel with food and bedding, only to make it sound like a rock grinder when he ran on it at night. He stopped waiting by the door of his cage when Boo was getting ready for bed. He didn't sniff and dart around when out of his cage, preferring instead to curl up in Boo's hand. And he wasn't biting the Boy any more. He just wasn't himself.

Knowing what was coming, I tried to prepare Boo. Mostly she didn't believe me but toward the end, she started to admit that something wasn't right. And? I picked out a burial plot in the back garden. As much as it would suck, I had a plan to ease the blow.

Using a stepping stone kit from a craft store, Boo designed a headstone, complete with lettering. She fussed and fretted over it, re-starting her design a few times before she settled on fitting tribute.

Because our back area is not fenced, the Man gave specific instructions on the burial. Snowman dug a hole that was just over a foot deep and lined it with cedar chips. Peanut was buried in a fancy box that was originally a gift box. More cedar chips and then the dirt packed back in. The finished headstone was placed on top.

Thank you, Peanut, for being such a great pet! You are already missed.

8 comments:

Amanda said...

Sad:(

Me (aka Danielle) said...

Very sad. I think it sweet that you let her make a headstone.

Christine Rains said...

Aww, so sad.

Jessica G. said...

I told Boo that I was posting this and asked if she wanted to read it first. She got a little teary and snuggled up with me but didn't want to read it. Poor girl.

Cherie Reich said...

Aww! That's so sad!

Janell said...

What a beautiful gravestone for a little companion.

Mary said...

It's so hard to lose a pet, but she is lucky to have understanding parents that helped ease the pain. Farewell Peanut.

Debi said...

Thanks for posting a picture of Boo! :) She is SO cute!

Powered By Blogger

Blog Archive