All the days numbered for me . .

And for our guinea pig!

This morning, when all was still, I came down to find that the stillness that is death had extended to embrace our Guinea Pig, Chestnut, during the night.

The horror scenario that greets many of us as parents at some stage had visited the Vicar household and the breaking of the news to the children was going to range from the teenage shrug to the tears of the younger member (and owner of said Cavies).

Guine Pigs bring nothing into the world and take nothing from it, but on the way through they bring the discipline of care (ably covered by Mum when the carer forgets), the joy of relationship and the lessons of life that deal with death and loss.

So we gave Chestnut a funeral, dried the eyes, hugged the bereaved and now life continues. Valuable lessons learned and joy at the memories of the good times and the little things that caused pleasure to him and to us.

And for the parental role - never realised how many things it encompasses. Makes me glad that I'm not further up the creation/omnipotent food chain. Don't know how God manages it on a 7*24*365 basis :-)

Happy Sunday

Chestnut
 2008 - 2012

A Good Guine Pig Indeed
RIP