Care to hear an amusing story to “divert” your attention for a moment.
Bronte declared yesterday emphatically she wanted a pet. A goldfish and a cat she tells me and her dad.
She is wanting a pet and tells us she is ready for the “possibility” and can handle it…what she means is she feels ready for the "responsibility" and as you know so well after a single visit she is adorable as she stares you straight on and tells you what she wants in the now. I would not crush this spirit for anything. Turns out that the source of this intention is that certain classmates are going on about their pets and of course Bronte wants now for her self a cat like Sophie, a goldfish like Grace or a hamster like Piper!
We explained to her that dogs chew shoes. Cats often scratch furniture, the bigger the animal the smellier it can be and that you can’t cuddle goldfish, only watch and feed them. We suggest that she compare what it would take to set up housekeeping for a goldfish vs a cat vs a hamster and she and her dad take off to Petco to do the research…but not to purchase.
I get a frantic call that her beloved “Bubblegum” a pink and white striped stuffed cat she took with her to the store has been lost and they are searching all the nooks and crannies of Petco where she might have set Bubblegum down for a moment. So down I come to help search (for the Petco is very near the place we all live) and add my eyes and intution to the search. Dad doubles back to the satellite library in the little community mall near our apartment that she loves. Sure enough the kitty is found among the children’s books where she left him. And dad failed to notice she left with less than she came in with. Not the first time he has overlooked her personal belongings dragged along and left behind. Won’t be the last I suspect. No matter.
She is now so happy to have Bubblegum back naturally her attentions next turn to the aquarium with three hamsters that are a family given to Petco for adoption….Harry and sons…
Harry is a furry striped and rather attractive hamster. His sons sre simply small and golden and cute as all small things are. And to the average viewer impossible to tell apart.
She begins telling us she’d like to take Harry home and we listen attentively preparing no response. No need for we had set this trip to Petco up to be a research only…she will one day be a great negotiator, mediator, diplomat if she so chooses. Turns out we can adopt them at no cost except to set up their living quarters. If you could see her big blue eyes…and you have.
So $57.03 later we are leaving with the clear glass aquarium with aerated top cover, pink and blue bedding, running wheel, chew toys, food, a plastic and hollow strawberry for them to nest in and a rolly ball so that they can run about the living room for a change of pace. A real bargain actually considering…
It was
Harry and Ying like to run north (based on how the wheel faces the wall. Yang like to run in the opposite direction. It’s a riot to watch one flip out the other as they attempt with incredible determination to get into the wheel and commence to run in the direction they would like…kept us occupied for over 30 minutes. We call it the Hamster Channel.
We are investing in a second smaller wheel for the boys.
And at
Wherever you are remember that life is about these moments more than anything. Simple and ecstatic bliss as children is easy to come by. We need never lose this ability.
And when you need to regroup after a stressful moment visualize if you can this.
One very furry hamster with a raccoon like face and two golden twins that want to run in opposite directions and content to repeat till they can only do one thing, burrow into a bit blue and pink bedding and sleep. A short nap and a meal of nuts and seeds later the exploration begins again. Best thing I did for ME of late was say yes to my little one’s request for a pet! For I just gave myself access to my little girl as well.
This message brought to you by the Hamster Channel!
