The Light of Day

Mouse update
KeithHandy posted in Mus Musculus on February 13th, 2008

Emily Junior is home. Her fur is a bit scraggly looking, from going a couple days without her groomer, but I’m sure that shortly after I put her back in with Ralphie she will be shined up to a radiant glow. She had a small tumor just behind her front leg, and when I took her in a week ago, the doc said she needed to first take antibiotics for a week because she (the doc) felt that her (Em Jr’s) breathing ought to be a little less labored before going under the anesthesia. So we (I) did our (my) best at attempting to trick her into taking said meds, and we (I) were (was) semi-successful. And apparently, semi-successful was good enough, because she was in good shape for the operation.

One thing I like about going to Cats & Critters: everyone there, including the other customers, says “awwww”, and nobody says “ewwww”. For some reason, out of any random sampling of our fellow meat puppets, there will invariably be one or two folks who are horrified by little animals. For the sake of all y’all, I will clarify one thing: I don’t keep mice to offend or shock you, or to be a “non conformist”. In fact, none of the “non conforming” things I do are to be “non conformist”. I try to live my life in a genuine way, and it just so happens that I think mice are among the awesomest of critters.

Mice are a paradox, simultaneously the most innocent and mischievous of creatures. To some degree, individual mice are polarized, some being predominantly “alpha” while some are “beta”; but every mouse has components of both. Their innocence is projected by their tiny, almost dainty feet, inquisitive eyes, big ears, round bellies, and outgoing social nature… but the movement of their tails gives away their naughty side. They sometimes yearn to escape and asplore, but if they have a nice home, they want to come back to it. The fact that Ralphie was so determined to move into the cage removed any doubts I may have had; if PETA comes knocking on my door, insisting that mice belong out in the woods, I can tell them to fuck off in good conscience.

Mice are very “people-aware”; although to some degree they’re in their “own universe”, they’re not oblivious like a bowlful of cockroaches. Emily Junior in particular will always rush to greet me at the wall of the cage, even if it means putting aside one of her favorite foods. Ralphie, although she has been living the domestic life for a year, still has her wild background and preservation instincts, so although she wants to “check me out”, she will often twist her body to one side to get ready to run away if I move too quickly. If I back up a few inches, she understands that I am surrendering, and she relaxes again.

Anyway, pretty soon here, I’ll re-unite these best of buddies, and there will be a whole lot of groomin’ goin’ on. Thanks to anyone who read my previous posts and sent positive thoughts (without necessarily knowing what was the matter).