Ben - Mother’s Day 2003-February 22,2007
I lost my friend Ben today. I was getting ready to go to work and as I passed his cage I saw that he had passed away. I knew it was coming with him being almost four years old-that has to be over a hundred in rat years. I’ll really miss him. He loved to sit on my shoulder and stick his whiskers in my ear and chitter until I giggled. He liked to go outside for walks with me. Most of all he loved to harrass my cat. His cage was a glass aquarium with a wire topper on it with different levels. When my cat came over by the cage he would climb up and out, down the wires and touch noses with my cat just to say, “Ha ha, I could beat you up kitty. Don’t even think about trying to act tough to me.” I always got a huge laugh out of that-while watching my feline pet very closely just to make sure Ben didn’t push him too far. I could tell he wasn’t doing very well lately. He seemed a bit listless and didn’t run around as much when he was out of his cage. I knew he was really old as far as rats go but I didn’t expect he would go as suddenly as he did. I just wish I could have been there for him. I would have liked to be there with him for his final moments. This will have to be his tribute-since I still live in an apartment and couldn’t bury him. I wish I had a picture. I’ll have to find one and post it when I have a chance.