A New Handsome Fellow

Not much has happened in rat-land since I left Las Cruces.  Truth be told, I'd been feeling really depressed about rats in general, and especially rescue, for a while.  Losing Einstein really knocked me off course, and since they I've felt pretty lost.  I was down to three -- Amadeus, Ginji and Ban -- and had completely planned to leave it at that for the rest of their natural lives. 

Until I went into Petsmart today and met this fellow:

I haven't picked out a name for him yet.  He is a BIG handsome boy, very sweet and cuddly.  Apparently he's been there for eight months and has never attracted any attention from shoppers.  He had a problem with being bullied by his cage mates for a while, so we'll see if we have any problems with intros.  He's a tremendous, lovey cuddlebug though, and he gives great kisses. 

Einstein - 2010 to March 21st, 2012

My sweet old man-rat died suddenly and unexpectedly on the 21st.  I haven't dealt wit the body yet; I want to do something special for him, but I'm in a new city and I'm not sure where in my apartment complex I could get away with burying him. 

I knew his time was coming.  He was creeping up on his 3rd birthday and he was very thin and finally beginning to slow down and show his age.  A part of me thought/hoped that he was immortal, even though I knew it wasn't true.  He was just so spry and full of life right until the end. 

He was curled up in his hammock, food in his paws, when I found him.  I knew something was wrong because he didn't run up to say hello, and Einstein would always run out to see me.  I pulled him out and he was pretty much gone.  I stroked his fur and talked to him until he'd passed.  I think it was a stroke, or maybe just old age.  It's hard to tell. 

Einstein was special.  He was a little monkey, always getting into trouble.  He was the smartest, most mischievous pain-in-the-ass rat and I loved him dearly for it. 

I'm sorry, Einer-steiner.  I miss you so much.