Lessons From Petey and Ralph

Life for me is like life for most people. During the week, there's a lot going on. I spend weekdays tackling deadlines in an advertising firm. Since we launched The Angry Thunderstorm, I spend time a lot of time talking to people about the book and promoting it through different channels. In the evenings, I have family activities which include my husband, two children and two dogs. Up until a few weeks ago, it also included two hamsters, Petey and Ralph. Sadly, Petey and Ralph left us for that great hamster ball in the sky.

Petey and Ralph were not your typical hamsters. They were mischievous. There were several times we had to form a search party because they had learned to pick the lock on their hamster ball and had become quite the escape artists. We began taping the ball at the end so they couldn't perform their Houdini act. Come to think of it, I think that may have been what did poor Petey in. Sidenote to self: Every now and then, you just need a good escape.

In their hamster ball, these comrades were fearless. At first our dogs chased them. It only took one wrong turn and they soon learned that the dogs would duck tail and run when that ball came rolling at them. Sidenote to self: Every now and then, it doesn't hurt to change your focus and direction, if only for a little while.

On a bright and sunny Saturday, Petey collapsed in the hamster ball. I assured my son that this is how Petey would have wanted it. Still, we were sad. But I think poor Ralph felt his loss the most. Two days later, I walked past my son's room to find Ralph running at warp speed around the cage. I stepped in to check on him just in time to see him keel over. Sidenote to self - Slow down and stop running in circles. The outcome can't be good.

So there you have it - the reason why my blog has sat silently for over a week. I have been practicing the lessons of Petey and Ralph. Did I mention that they were smart little hamsters?