Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Winds of Change

Growing up, my family never had a family pet. My uncle gave me a goldfish one day in a bag, and that is the closest I've come to owning a pet. My dad always made me clean out its jar. Tired of scrubby poopy pebbles, I decided I would free my fish so I wouldn't have to take care of it any more. Turns out goldfish don't thrive in roadside ditches. I was still in the single digits for age, so don't go thinking it was a malicious mistake.

Dan, on the other hand, had an entire bedroom set aside for his furry, feathered, and slippery friends. We counted them up one day, and he came up with a total of 65 pets in his childhood. So, we've had a few discussions between us over the years about the kids owning their own pet. I really am uncomfortable around animals, so it was a monumental step the day I agreed to get a kitten. "Dotty" lasted 10 days before I had to return her (while Dan was on a business trip in San Fran.) And no, the return wasn't into a ditch!

So now, I'll get to the introduction. Dan brought another furry critter into our home, a gift for the kids at Christmas. I made things real clear. Number one: If it ever touches me, I will first FREAK OUT real loud and then it will leave our house. And number two: If it ever gets loose, I'll be opening the front door to invite it out! I'm a real softie, huh?! Meet Hammy:

4 comments:

Hilary said...

We never had pets, either, because my Dad isn't such a fan, and besides, half of us were allergic. Except one summer my Mom brought home about 4 gerbils from her daycare, and they quickly multiplied to about 100, and then they managed to free themselves... I don't like gerbils :)

Kimm said...

I am proud of you..I had bad experiences with hamsters..I will spare you the details..they will scare you...Good luck with your new friend!!!

Julia said...

I too, am not an animal lover. Paul has been wanting a dog for years, but I have yet to give in. I detest pet hair, smells, and noises. My poor children will never have anything to love and take care of. When they ask, I simply say that when they are a mommy they can get whatever pet they want. Good luck to your new adventure with hammy. I'm interested to see how long you'll last. :)

SlonikerScoop said...

You've gone to the dark side of pet ownership.....I am not a fan of any pets either so I totally get it!!!