Rats are here for such a short time, but they do so much living while they're here. All of my former rats are burned so deeply into my memory that I can close my eyes and almost feel like I can reach out and touch them, and I can practically see the expressions on their faces. I've learned a lot from all of them, and I'm grateful for everything they've given me. What would I do without rats? I think I'd probably go crazy.
As it is, most people think I'm crazy for loving rats, but if they could just get past their prejudice, they'd find that they were missing the best kind of human-animal interaction. Rats have no prejudices other than the ones that have come from bad experiences, and those they quickly lose if given the proper care and lots of love. Rats are so very forgiving, and they are such happy, hopeful, optimistic animals - if only people were more like rats!
And rat people are some of the best people I've ever dealt with. If I know you love rats, automatically I'm at ease. I know rat people aren't all perfect, but they're some of the most relaxed, non-judgmental, caring souls I've met. If everyone replaced the chips they were carrying around on their shoulders with a rat or two, we'd all be a lot better off. Of course, we'd also have many more holes in our shirts, but I think it'd be worth it.
Well, I'm on the border of getting sappy, mushy or teary or something awful like that, so I think I'd better end now. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Rachel Rosenthal's book, Tattie Wattles, "...RATS were my Power Animal(s)! They helped me, healed me, comforted and protected me, took no nonsense and gave me joy. A funny Power Animal, they helped me develop irony and humor in my work." May you, too, share all of that with your rats - especially the fun, joy and humor. Namaste!
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