Life Lessons From A Robo Hamster Named Hank

Hank was a surprise __ Let’s  just say that if you’d told me five months back that I would wind up being the guardian of a small rodent I would have laughed out loud. But there he was, sitting in his fluorescent plastic cage behind the counter at Petsmart. The sign taped to it:

One Male Robo Hamster

Free to a good home.

Comes with cage.

Who do you think will get him? I asked the kid at the checkout counter.

Aw, don’t worry, I’m sure some college kid will get him. He said.

The next scene arrived with me, sitting out in in the parking lot with scenes of collegiate, dionysian debauchery running through my head __  There were bong hits, keg stands, 3am loudspeakers.

I know, I know. I’m a worrier.

Which is why I now have Hank.

And there aren’t many things in life that  that say neurotic quite as loudly as someone wondering aloud whether or not their Robo hamster is enjoying the NPR station left on for him.

So I’m learning from Hank.

I’m learning that Robo hamsters are from somewhere near Mongolia__ And that they travel through tunnels at night, running what would be considered 6 marathons (human terms) in one night!

I’m learning that Robo hamsters aren’t very social, but they do like peanut butter a lot, and will even come out of their tube to get it.   

I’m learning that I wish human beings didn’t try to capture and own animals that want to run 157.2 (human miles:) through the desert all night.

I’m learning I’m a rescuer, and that I’m working on this one.

But mainly, I’m learning that it feels good to love __  be it a human, a plant__or a small, furry Mongolian hamster named Hank.

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