Hard losses, Broken hearts
x-posted
Sometimes, being a rat Mom is horribly depressing. There is something about bringing these wonderful creatures into your homes, knowing their short lives, and falling in love that is so masochistic.
This week, is one of those weeks that makes me ask "Why do I still love to love rats?".
On tuesday, we had a devastating tragedy. A horrible, fluke accident took the life of wonderful Taco Chip the dwarf boy. Last night, we lost our beloved Josh (EAGL You Raise Me Up), the first roan/husky rat born in the NW united states. We lost him to heart failure, which was most likely caused by the stress of our record breaking heat wave, plus the case of SDA (a viral infection that causes pneumonia) that almost killed him last year. I honestly didn't think Josh would still be with us now after almost loosing him then, but I felt blessed every day, to have that exceptional rat man with me still.
It always seems, the deepest rattie losses, come during the times of greatest personal trials. I feel as though Josh decided to sneek out during my already horrible time, as to not ruin a good time. He was always a caring rat, and a comforter. He lived, to make sure his people were happy, and knew he loved them.
Now I ask fellow rat owners, how do you mourn your beloved rattie losses, and celebrate their lives? I think that as rat owners, and pet owners in general we all need to keep in our minds, how to memorialize our furry family. As they pass on so much sooner than us, as the typical humans need for sentimental mourning, I'd love to hear ideas, and for people to think of ideas to make ratty losses, easier to swallow.
For Taco, since he had multiple families, I plan on buying mini rose bushes in a color like his (Yellowish orange) to celebrate his life. He will be buried at his "moms" house, in her garden. I will also have a "Taco flower" in my yard, and send one home to his breeder in Canada if she can get it across the border.
Josh is being cremated, as we will not be living here much longer, and I would rather bury him some place we love. A plant just doesn't seem "right" for him, as he was a manly boy, who knew he was the top man. I plan on using some of his ashes in a sculpture of him also, to be displayed in our home. I have a small collection of ashes from some of the most precious rats... the ones I just wasn't able to let go of. They have moved with me many times, and will be put to rest, when I'm in a place where I can do it. (Yes i take death more seriously than some, but some people are much more sentimental than others, and we all grieve differently)
I'm very sorry for the depressing topic, but as an artist, and as a rat owner, grief is a base part of my life, and something that is dealt with often.
Sometimes, being a rat Mom is horribly depressing. There is something about bringing these wonderful creatures into your homes, knowing their short lives, and falling in love that is so masochistic.
This week, is one of those weeks that makes me ask "Why do I still love to love rats?".
On tuesday, we had a devastating tragedy. A horrible, fluke accident took the life of wonderful Taco Chip the dwarf boy. Last night, we lost our beloved Josh (EAGL You Raise Me Up), the first roan/husky rat born in the NW united states. We lost him to heart failure, which was most likely caused by the stress of our record breaking heat wave, plus the case of SDA (a viral infection that causes pneumonia) that almost killed him last year. I honestly didn't think Josh would still be with us now after almost loosing him then, but I felt blessed every day, to have that exceptional rat man with me still.
It always seems, the deepest rattie losses, come during the times of greatest personal trials. I feel as though Josh decided to sneek out during my already horrible time, as to not ruin a good time. He was always a caring rat, and a comforter. He lived, to make sure his people were happy, and knew he loved them.
Now I ask fellow rat owners, how do you mourn your beloved rattie losses, and celebrate their lives? I think that as rat owners, and pet owners in general we all need to keep in our minds, how to memorialize our furry family. As they pass on so much sooner than us, as the typical humans need for sentimental mourning, I'd love to hear ideas, and for people to think of ideas to make ratty losses, easier to swallow.
For Taco, since he had multiple families, I plan on buying mini rose bushes in a color like his (Yellowish orange) to celebrate his life. He will be buried at his "moms" house, in her garden. I will also have a "Taco flower" in my yard, and send one home to his breeder in Canada if she can get it across the border.
Josh is being cremated, as we will not be living here much longer, and I would rather bury him some place we love. A plant just doesn't seem "right" for him, as he was a manly boy, who knew he was the top man. I plan on using some of his ashes in a sculpture of him also, to be displayed in our home. I have a small collection of ashes from some of the most precious rats... the ones I just wasn't able to let go of. They have moved with me many times, and will be put to rest, when I'm in a place where I can do it. (Yes i take death more seriously than some, but some people are much more sentimental than others, and we all grieve differently)
I'm very sorry for the depressing topic, but as an artist, and as a rat owner, grief is a base part of my life, and something that is dealt with often.