Ohhh where does the time go? I am so awesome at updating my blog, aren’t I?!
Amidst playing songs from Annie, Get Your Gun for several hours a day, wrangling pre-teen and teenage thespians, and scarfing down peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the 90 degree sunshine while scratching at mosquito bites, I’ve been reflecting on my love for the humble guinea pig.
I never meant to fall in love with guinea pigs. I never gave them a second thought. I thought they were weird-looking… I didn’t ‘get’ them. I had never held one. And then I met Gus, and my world flipped upside down, and suddenly my heart was melted into a puddle by this tiny squeaking ball of black and white fur with the cutest little pink lower lip the world had ever seen.
This was my wake up call to the captivating world of cavies on a rainy Saturday in April of 2005.
I said goodbye forever to that sweet little face on June 8 this year. I’ve been emotionally recovering since, but it still catches me and I get tugged into crying at times when I’m alone with my thoughts. Gus changed my whole life. And I had to see the life leave his body right in front of me at the vet’s office. We didn’t have him put to sleep. It was just his time, and that’s how it went. He was in such capable hands. All I could do was sit and watch in simultaneous horror and relief that his suffering was finally over.
Oh golly here I go tearing up just now. I’d better not write too much more.
I just feel so grateful to have had him in my life. Without him, I never would have known how sweet, smart, and loving guinea pigs really are. Not to mention how completely disgustingly CUTE. Ugh it’s sickening isn’t it?? I’m a little nutty but I can’t help it. I’ve barely had time to think about artwork lately but all I have to do is search ‘guinea pig’ on Google images and I get filled with more inspiration than I know what to do with.
So my public proclamation stands – I love guinea pigs. I think more people need to know about them and how great they are. And I’m going to keep drawing and painting them, because I can’t help myself. Nothing I can do can bring Gus back to me, but I can honor him and remember him with my artwork. I miss you, little guy. :’(
I’m sorry to hear of Gus’ passing. Piggies are small but their personalities are so big. Gus is happily eating all of his favorite veggies right now.
Thank you so much, Jocelyn. I like to picture him happily romping through a beautiful garden with all of the other happy animals that have touched our lives. What a blessing to have a loving pet, but so bittersweet in knowing they (usually) won’t outlive us.