Post by Laura πΉ on Feb 21, 2023 19:00:39 GMT
It is with tremendous sadness and heartbreak that on January 30th 2023, I had to say goodbye to my best friend, Sumo.
After coming to live with us in September 2020 we spent the BEST two and a half years together. That time was filled with such happiness and love. I don't have a single regret from our time together - all I can say is I miss my little friend terribly.
To begin with I barely saw him - for the first few months he seemed to be so well snuggled into his new home that he didn't want to come out! - but once we encouraged him to disover how much fun coming out to play was (and how many tasty veggies could be had!) we had a friendly, fun-loving and incredibly tame little guy on our hands.
2020 into 2021 was, without meaning to sound dramatic, the worst year of my life. During that time I was made redundant from a job I'd been in over a decade, fallen straight into a new job that appeared to be a blessing but was actually by far the worst I've worked, lost my only Grandmother and Grandfather then my Father all in very quick succession as well as with a pandemic going on throughout... my mental health plummeted and the people I referred to who were meant to help me ultimately ended up failing me. My constants through this time were my Mum, and Sumo. I don't know what I'd have done without either of them always supporting me, loving me, cheering me up and cheering me on.
Playing with Sumo every single night was my daily routine for so long. Putting up his playpen and putting out his ridicolously huge assortment of cardboard tubes we'd saved from all sorts of food packaging and wrapping paper tubes was like some sort of little ritual I'd perform. And sure enough Sumo would come out, near enough every single night, and pitter-patter through his tubes and run around like a maniac and entertain us with his endless antics.
During the last couple of months he became incredibly clingy. I'd sit in his playpen with his like always, and he'd just be all over me like a rash. If I got up and moved, he'd follow my feet around. I had to be so careful not to squish him when I sat down because he'd be there, waiting for me! And when I was in, all the time he wanted to jump on me, climb me, run up and down inside the sleeves of my dressing down and round and round my middle and back out. If I laid down, he'd run around me and zoom under my neck in the most delightful little brush of warm fur. He'd jump on my legs, run up my body, and leap off my torso back to the floor again. I'd get whiskers in my ears. Once or twice my face got stood on and I had to try so hard not to snort with laughter and blow him away! He had a thing about my necklace and would hanging on to it like a dog with a bone while I tried to prise him off! I used to jokingly compain that he was being a pest, but really I loved every single moment and it made me laugh every time.
Sumo was blessed with a long and healthy life. His eyes got a little sticky sometimes in his late life and I had to bathe them (veggie bribery helped offset how much this was not enjoyed!!) but right up until the end, he was full of beans. We could see his fur thinning out, his little body growing skinnier, his movements becoming stiffer - but none of it stopped him. We all played together - Sumo, my Mum and I - the night before he went to the rainbow bridge just like always and, just like always, we had so much fun and many veggies were stufed enthusiastically into hamster cheeks.
Sometimes I'm convinced I can hear the rustle of his bedding as he shuffles about, the pellets in his potty being dug around in, the clink of food in his bowl, the rattle of his waterbottle. Not so much now, but to start with, I was so sure he was still here in this room, in his cage, just like always. I really miss all those little sounds.
He's not here physically, but he's still with me in other ways, and that will never change.
Sumo, thank you so much for being my friend. It was my privelege being your owner, and I cherish every moment we spent together. I can't even begin to tell you how much joy and happiness you brought me, and how much love I felt for you. I am still overwhelmed with love for you. It makes me miss you so much.
I'm so relived that you passed in your own time, in your own way, in your own cage without any illness. I desperately hope you know how much you were loved, though I suspect you do. (We told you often enough!)
One day I'll see you again. It may not be for a long time, but I can't wait to see you again little man. Next time the tears will be happy ones, and we'll play together just like always <3
Sumo, Christmas 2022, eating one of his favourites - radiccio!