Death of a Hamster

Snow, sleet and ice. More snow, sleet and ice. At least it's not the cyclone of the century that Australia is expecting. And now I don't care anything about Chicago and their snow storm. It's enough. even so my day had some early upheavals. I finally rousted myself from my nice warm bed to drag Miss Murray out to the streets. She refused to go more tan one block which was actually OK with me and then I went on to the Gym. I felt like a visiting dignitary because I hadn't darkened their door for a week. Welcome back stranger.

Got home this morning just in time to take a quick look at Amelia, Kate's hamster who was clearly in distress last night. Kate alerted me to the fact that she really wasn't moving. I touched her and found that she had a pulse, huddled in a corner, very shallow breathing and just not happy. What's wrong, Mom? She's dying Kate....So much for sugar coasting things.

And so this morning I found Amelia in the classic paws up posture. And then I really had to be the Mom again because Kate was grossed out and asked me to take care of her. So I produced my most beautiful silver shoe box with a red lining and carefully picked up Amelia and placed her amid some tissue paper. And she was stiff. Then we said some words about Amelia who had only lived sith us since Easter of last year but had a wonderful life. Kate played with her regularly, fed and watered her and also had an excercise ball so that she could roll around through the apartment providing Miss Murray didn't swipe at it with her paw. But all in all Amelia had a good life with us. And as I reminded Kate Amelia didn't suffer and neither did we. Of course by this time I was sobbing. Kate comforted me and took the box into her room until we can find a solution for the body. Because now my problem is what to do with the showbox/coffin which has a yellow sticky saying Miss Amelia Hamster, RIP.

It's too cold and snowy -- the ground is really frozen -- to take her to Central Park and dig a burial pit. We don't live close to a river where we could slip her in for a final sail. We could keep her in the freezer until the Spring and the ground is softe. No, I don't think so.

I think we will turn to Peter our very reliable handyman to take care of this probem for us. Any suggestions gentle readers?