This is page three of some images and remembrances of our dearly departed past rats which form a brief history of Rodents of Unusual Sweetness. Though they are all dearly missed (except possibly Smapdi), they live on in their memories and in their offspring, many of whom still live with us today.
Dearly Departed Rats in Chronological Order of Their Passing
ZRR Matisse • April 14, 2003 to July 24, 2005
Sweet Matisse was a gentle, retiring soul who loved his igloo, his buddies and his dinner, not necessarily in that order. His best buddy in all the world, Stoju, will miss him as much as we humans do.
SOL Touch the Sun AKA Wayne • February 25, 2003 to August 11, 2005
Wayne was a mean old son of a gun and I loved him, fangs and all. Wayne gave me the worst rat bite scar I've ever had and I still loved him. I'm either nuts or he had charisma, or some of both. I fear for the angels in rat heaven and hope they all have a good head start on him!
ROUS Sharona • November 30, 2003 to August 28, 2005
Precious little beauty Sharona was so lovely and so brave. She succumbed to pneumonia after a fight of several months. She leaves behind a beautiful litter of sons and daughters and a litter of grandbabies born just a few days before her death. I loved this scrappy angel so very much and will miss her for years to come. I can still see her spirit in the sparkling black eyes of her mother Ani and daughter Mira.
ROUS Siggi • September 21, 2002 to September 12, 2005
My dear old ruddy duck, my little viking man, I almost believed you'd never leave us. Just nine days shy of your third birthday, you passed out of this world to ratty Vallhalla to be with your siblings and parents and all the friends who went before you. Dear old man, you were such a gentleman your whole life and we miss you so.
ROUS Branwell• January 27, 2005 to September 15, 2005
My gentleman Bran passed far far too young to kidney failure. I loved this sweet dear boy so very much. We had less than a year together but we loved a lifetime in it. Herschel and Angus and Rothko and I miss you so much, baby. Rest well and come back to us one day.
ROUS Harlow • September 19, 2003 to September 17, 2005
My little blonde bombshell passed two days shy of her second birthday. She went to join her beautiful sister Audrey to romp with their father Nemo and mother Sloane. Thoughtful girl that she was, she leaves behind a beautiful daughter and granddaughter plus two wonderful grandsons to comfort me. My little meringue goddess was such a little character, nobody who met her could fail to love her.
ROUS Gracie • May 28, 2003 to September 18, 2005
Oh Gracie, beautiful brave Gracie. You were the best patient I ever had. At the end when I had to spoon feed you and sponge bathe you, you never complained. I wonder if you enjoyed our time together as much as I did. I still can't look at a box of wipes and not feel a little sad and a lot nostalgic for you, my messy eater. We used more wipes than Monk, you and I, in your last months. I loved you so much and will always think of you with your little black head pressed up against my heart, looking up at me with so much love in your eyes. Our time together was some of the most precious I've ever shared with a rat and you will be with me always in spirit.
LSRC Stoju • March 5, 2003 to October 1, 2005
My little brown clown, you were simply the best. My funny, furry valentine, I love you now and always.
ROUS Gordon • July 4, 2003 to October 11, 2005
El Gordo Guapo, my handsome man, you were such a wonderful member of our family. You were so much in the image of your beloved grandma Beefy and also you were singularly yourself, too. You were so brave even to the end and were the best little patient for your meds and proddings. I miss you so much - that cage just is not the same without you in it. Your kids and grandkids are so treasured here, it's like a little part of you remains forever.
ROUS Louise Brooks aka Weetzie Bat • July 2, 2003 to October 13, 2005
My Weetzie, my sweet sweet Weetzie. How is it possible you are gone? You were such a strong spirit - born a tiny runt, battling cancer and tumor surgery in your later years and coming back from a stroke at the very end. I almost believed you'd beat even death and live forever. My little white angel, my Weetzles, how can you be gone? If love alone could have kept you alive, you'd still be here with me and with Honey and Frannie. I love you so much and always will.
RSCL Anatolia aka Ani Half-Tail • April 29, 2003 to October 17, 2005
My tough, battlin' Ani, I somehow thought you'd live forever. You were so full of life right up to the end, that the idea that your spark could ever go out seemed impossible. Go chase some angels, my dear old love. I'll take good care of your granddaughters here on earth.
Siri • Early January, 2003 to October 24, 2005
Gentle soul, loving angel, beloved friend - you were all those things and so much more. Siri, you were such a singular soul, like no other rat I've ever known. You were never cross, never bossy, never grabby - you were an angel dressed in soft white and gray fur, a ratty bodhisattva. I will miss and love you forever and when I get cross or crabby, I will think of you instead and try to forgive and forget as easily as you did.
3GR Francesca • June 30, 2003 to November 3, 2005
Oh Fran, my sweet, full of life Franny. My Frangiapani de la Squeegee Mop - you were such a little spark of life, even to the end when you got so frail. You blazed and shone with energy and excitement for every experience, even visits to the vet. My little brown sparrow girl, I love you so.
CWR Darjeeling • June 7, 2003 to November 4, 2005
My sweet clowny chicken man. I miss you so much. Your passing from a stroke was such a shock and such a loss to all of us. I promise to take good care of Doyle and Roger and Rufus for you til they can be with you again. You were the best and there will never be your like again.
ROUS Orzo • August 15, 2003 to November 6, 2005
My dear big Noodleman. You were such a lovely guy. I know how much you missed your brother Tortellini when he died and I hope you are together again along with your beloved mother and father. I will miss your big handsome self so much and am so grateful that you fathered a litter before you left us. Your spirit will go on in those perfect babies.
ROUS Roger • September 14, 2003 to November 10, 2005
Roger, you were such an unexpected naked surprise in your litter. You never stopped amazing me from the minute you started going bald til you left me, curled up with your furry "brothers" in your snuggle bed. You were such a quirky, wonderful little man inside and out. Doyle and Dar and Dewey will greet you so happily and you can all run and play together, young and hearty and well again.
ROUS Chianina • March 4, 2005 to November 11, 2005
Oh sweet little Chia, you left us too soon in a terrible accident. I will never stop feeling so guilty about my clumsiness. I never meant to hurt you and I hope you knew that. You were such a sweet, pretty little girl and I will miss you so much. I will take such good care of your sisters for you. Please forgive me, angel girl.
CWR Doyle • June 1, 2003 to November 13, 2005
Darling Doyle, my noble knight in shining pale fur, I adored you. You were so handsome and so gentle and so perfect. Your passing leaves such an emptiness in the rattery that I think may never be filled. There never was a rat quite like you and I think there may never be again. If you knew how special you were, you never let it go to your head. You were so lovely and kind to every rat I ever introduced to you. Your beautiful bride Flaxen misses you like I do, as do your sons and your best buddy Rufus. I am happy that you will be with your brother Darjeeling - I knew you couldn't stand to be without him for long. I will love and miss you forever and ever, my beautiful boy.
CWR Betty Blue • June 11, 2005 to December 11, 2005
My darling angel you flew away too damn soon. Oh Betty, we tried so hard to beat your illness and we couldn't. Even your vet is heartbroken. You were too good for this world my little blue baby. I miss you so much. Your cage just isn't right without you in it. The world just isn't right because you're not in it. You were so so good my baby girl.
ROUS Bit-O-Honey • October 16, 2003 to December 12, 2005
Honey, you were as sweet as your name, my fluffy little smeezleton. You kept going after your stroke and learned how to get along nearly as well as you did before, though with a little wobble in your walk. You were always such a sweet girl and so happy to welcome new rats or act as temporary nanny to baby girls. Honey Bear, you were a joy and a delight all your days and we are all so much better for knowing you, my sweet fluffy girl.
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 1
The Annals of Ratstory, Page 2