Everything I Need to Know (about Life) I Learned from My Guinea Pigs
Becky and Melissa, of course, completely ignored the males. Self-assured and independent, Becky had a mischievous streak and a quirky sense of humor. One of her most unexpected skills was making bird calls. I'm not imagining this. She just started making loud bird-like noises one time when I was in another room. I was convinced a bird had somehow gotten into the kitchen but there was no bird to be found - only Becky watching me with a look of total innocence. It took me days to catch on that she was the source of the chirping! Of course, the fun was gone once she'd been found out and she never made the noise again.
Nicki was dark and mysterious. By far the most affectionate and friendly, able to get along with all his family members, Nicki successfully masqueraded as a female for three months. He finally gave himself away when I caught him courting Becky. He knew the jig was up and accepted his separation from the females with his usual good nature. He simply continued his gentle courtship through the cage wires as if nothing had changed.
All three male children had tragically short lives. They died within a period of three weeks before they'd reached their second birthdays, and their Mom followed them less than a month later. The house seemed unnaturally quiet without their cheerful piggie chorus to greet me every day. But with the others gone, Becky and her Dad became close and lived in harmony for five years. Becky mourned her father's death, but her depression cleared up when two new youngsters moved in to keep her company for the remaining year of her life.
We often judge the value of an animal's life by its size, its usefulness to us, or its intelligence. It's no wonder we feel alone in the universe when we can't appreciate the wonder and variety of the many creatures who surround us. Sharing the births, joyful lives, and deaths of my little guinea pig family taught me that an awful lot of living can be packed into the tiniest creatures and the shortest lifespans. Some of the lessons my piggies taught me were that
1. each living being is unique and irreplaceable;
2. we all experience the same drama, comedy, and tragedy and the same emotions;
3. every creature - however small, however brief its life - has its own wisdom and beauty to share with
Latest Articles