For over three years we have loved and adored our Remi.
When we would introduce people to our pet rat, Remi, we'd often get puzzled looks.
"You have a rat...
for a pet?"
I'd tell them, "You just have to know him."
Remi was special and he loved us as much as we loved him.
From early on, Remi knew his name and would come when called. He'd scurry to the door of his cage and climb right onto your hand. Sometimes, he'd just wait at the door, hoping someone would notice him. He loved attention. I'd sometimes just find myself sitting in front of his cage talking to him because he acted as if he understood me.
I knew Remi's life would be ending soon.
He'd surpassed his life expectancy by a few months already and he was starting to look his age.
Remi's hair was falling out, his eyes looked tired.
When I got up this morning, I went to check on him. He was lying at the bottom of his cage with his eyes closed. When I said his name, he tried to get up, but couldn't. I knew it would be soon, so I brought the kids in. I told them he was dying. We talked about what was happening to his body and what was happening to his spirit. They petted him and kissed him and waited...
Then, he was gone.
We found a box. Calvin carefully placed Remi in it.
The kids wrote letters to Remi and put them in the box.
We buried him in the backyard under the orange tree, said a prayer, and said, "goodbye."
We will miss you, Remi.
10 years.
