Rest Well, Kimchi
This is not a food related post. It’s going to be a long-winded one. Skip this if you’re not interested.
As I’ve mentioned, my darling hamsters are part of the reasons why I set up this blog, although it’s mainly a food blog. Till now, I really, really regret to only share pictures and stories of them when they were gone. This post no doubt is to commemorate my beloved Kimchi, who left me 2 days before Chinese New Year.
I love the rest of them no less, but Kimchi shares a very special bond with me. You can say it’s a love and hate relationship. We had tissue tug-of-war, massage sessions, hide-and-seek, etc. The countless things destroyed by her multiple chewing, escaping from her tank to see the world out there. Visiting Mikosan for a good fight twice, leaving an undesirable wound on her face, which healed completely later.
Being the most active of them all, a trait inherited from their mother Butterscotch(also Mikisan’s mother), Kimchi is always ready to come out for some fun. Whether she’s sleeping or running on her wheel, once my hand goes in, she will eagerly hop onto my hand. She even clings on to my hands even though I am not bringing her out. She’s affectionate, as well as kaypoh(a word which means inquisitive). She allows me to stroke her even when she’s sleeping, but she will wake up and acknowledge my presence by affectionately rubbing her head against my hands. I sometimes call her the kaypoh queen, because she’s always so curious and determined to find out what my pair of hands are doing, be it holding on to something, or clearing her potty. When I call the others, she will think that I’m calling her.
Kimchi trying to get up my pants
Kimchi chasing after a stick. What a messy desk, how embarrassing….
When it comes to food, she’s adventurous. She’s always the one who readily eats whatever new food I introduced. And did I tell you, she loves durian? It’s an acquired taste. The other hamsters ran away upon sniffing the durian, pushing my hands away (just like how some tourists react when they were offered durians when they come to Singapore).
Why the special bond? She made me feel special on the day she died. I got a friend to board her for almost 2 weeks as I was going away for a short trip. She was getting old, not as active and was skinnier. The day I passed her to my friend, I can sense that she was restless. The night I was back in Singapore, I received the bad news that she might not be able to make it. I rushed down to fetch her home. Her condition got worse the day I left Singapore. She couldn’t eat any solid food anymore. Friends prayed hard that she hanged on till I get back. They told her to wait for me. And she did.
I brought her back to spend her last moments with me. I could hardly sleep that night. She could still respond to me calling her name. She was weak but was still aware of what’s going on around her. There was a moment when she climbed up my hand, indicating that she wants to come out. I held on to her. She struggled. She wanted to walk about on the ground, like she always do. I put her back to a small carrier but she tried so hard to come out of the tank. I let her out onto the ground, she scampered around for a while.
Just before she was gone, she called out so loud. I had never heard any of my hamster does that before. It’s not a squeaking sound they usually made. I don’t know if she was in pain or she was calling out to me. I rushed to her, stroking her, hoping to ease her discomfort, asking her what was wrong. She quietened down. I continued stroking her. I told her, “Kimchi, it’s ok. Just let go.” She was gone a few minutes later.
Up till her last moments, I can feel her love for me. Tears still welds up when I recalled these moments. It’s a bond that can never be replaced. It’s amazing how these litter critters can make you feel. Their innocent expressions and funny ethics, they never fail to cheer me up. Kimchi, you will be greatly missed.
This is the year of the Rat. Many people are buying golden hamsters for good luck. Please DO NOT buy them on impulse. Be responsible, and do not abandon them when you get tired of them. At least, find them a good home. Every year, there are so many abandoned hamsters. You’ll be shocked how heartless and irresponsible some humans are, leaving the hamsters to fend for themselves. Parents, please do educate your children to be responsible for their pets. A pet is for life. Please be kind to them.
What a lengthy post, I apologized if I’ve bored you.
More food posts to come soon, I promise.
