To our beloved Guinea Pig, Charlie

Charlie came to us as a replacement for a hamster that had died soon after we got him. We were browsing through Pet Smart, checking out the hamsters when I couldn't take my eyes off little Charlie. And while I "blamed" Alyssa, it was really me that had fallen for the little guy. He cost a whole $28.99 plus tax. The cage and materials would run us another $100. But home he came that day. He started his life with us in Alyssa's room. But within 9 months he was moved into the Dining Room / Living Room and there his personality blossomed. He began his TV watching career, becoming hooked on all my favorite realty TV shows. From me, he learned that people were cruel in Big Brother and stabbed each other in the back in Survivor. Together we remarked through the seasons about "didn't they learn from watching last years show!!!" He enjoyed the racing and rivalries in the Amazing Race and cheered for my favorite teams while turning his nose up at Alan's favorite teams. He knew who to root for. We quickly learned how to shop for just the right leafy romaine lettuce and sorted through the bags of carrots for the largest and orangest of the bunch.

But the tide changed when he moved to Wisconsin. Soon he rooted for the Packers and squeaked for Alan's shows more than mine. He had become one with Alan while I lived in Illinois house alone. I did remind him of the night I kept him warm when the electricity went out and we had to wrap up in heavy blankets and I held him inside my layers of clothing and blankets, next to my body through the 16 hours of no electricity, only releasing him to his cage for potty breaks. I got some thanks for that. We began to get strange looks from our new Wisconsin neighbors as we shopped at the new grocery store discussing was this head of Romaine better than that head of Romaine for Charlie. And which parsley would he like this week - the curly or the Italian flat.

He became quite the player in the new house. He demanded his share of breakfast and dinner. What was most amazing was how he bonded with Q and the new kitten. With Q he had no fear, and would play tug of war over his lettuce and carrots. Q always won the carrot. Charlie always won the lettuce. You would think he would want to run and hide, but he stood his ground. Feeding time the animals and people were just opportunities for him to get another people treat. And each morning a big handful of hay provided lots of romping in and about it and munching to keep his teeth and digestion in good health. I was the hay giver. Alan the breakfast and dinner provider.

Then when Mazie joined us she took to laying on his cage, batting at him and spending hours on top of his cage just being with him. When Charlie came out to visit with Alan or watch TV, Mazie made sure to join him on Alan's lap. Mazie would lick Charlie, Charlie would bite Mazie. The last time they were out together, Mazie got 8 grooming sessions in and Charlie 8 bites before Mazie thought, "Hey, maybe it's play time" and we separated them. But each visit out they needed some time together. This picture was taken 4/14/2009. Charlie has aged quite a bit in just a year - and in the last week he has become very ill. He started crying all the time. He would stand over his food bowl and try to eat but could not. He would nibble the lettuce but could not chew it up. Picking him up, all you could feel was bones, when we had once been told our little piggy was, in fact, overweight.

So Tuesday, the vet told us he had developed advanced arthritis in his jaw that would not allow him to bring his molars together to chew or swallow. The vet said Charlie was starving to death. He had lost quite a bit of weight in just one week and had become very thin. From Tuesday to Saturday I had noticed such a difference, I had called the vet to make the appointment hoping it was just a bad tooth. The news broke my heart. The vet said we could only buy him a week with pain medication - and then the starving and suffering would begin again. So, we let him go with dignity and ended his suffering in a humane way. It broke my heart to say goodbye. They are with us only a short time. The number of pictures in our photo library tell a full life story of his days over the last 5 + years. Rest in peace Charlie, we all loved you.