Bips

The Fragile Balance (of Life)

Well, friends, we have most certainly been a bit delayed since we’ve last posted a blip about our beloved Bips. We hope this has not been to the dismay of any of you. Bips’s host family –Wesley, Wesley’s Mama and Dada—had taken a family vacation up to the Lake Superior area of our lovely State and left Bips and crew in the trusted hands of Wesley’s aunt Kristin. Kristin did a most wonderful job and Bips was happy to have made another new acquaintance. In fact, Kristin enjoyed her time as care giver so much that she sent Wesley and his family a text after they were home which stated “I <3 Bips.” (I “heart” Bips).

Wesley’s Dada and Mama have been taking many pictures of Bips and have been collecting many stories to share with you all. Wesley’s Dada has been waiting to sit down and begin a sort of Bips Adventures Marathon! We have much to talk about and bring you up to date with Bips’s Summer vacation.

But it is with great sadness, friends, that we must first inform you that before this could happen, our beloved Bips has passed on. We are all feeling sad about this. Very, very sad indeed. There was absolutely no indication or premonition that Bips was ailing at all. He was a very happy, active, and playful gerbil the entire time he was at Wesley’s home. From what we can surmise, Bips spent his final  moments doing the two things he enjoyed most: eating one last meal, and taking one last nap.

Please, if you would, take a moment here to pause in silence, in reflection and in honor of our beloved Mr. Bips.

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Now, we’d like to go ahead and share with you the things Bips got to experience since last we wrote, and celebrate all his gerbil-ness.

As our guest, we wanted Bips to experience new things and expand his world beyond his humble cage. One way we did this was deciding to offer him various new foods to try out. We’ve already  mentioned he liked to eat dead pill bugs, but we also offered him the following items.

First the things he did not eat: cauliflower,  green beans (we were kind of surprised by that one), clover leaves (also a bit surprising), dandelion leaves, and fresh spinach.

And the things he did eat: blueberries, broccoli, tortilla chip crumbs (no salt!), banana, and strawberries.

Things he was undecided on (he nibbled, but didn’t sit and eat entirely): apple sticks –apple flavored wood sticks—and blackberries.

One of Bips’s most favorite “treats” was cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls. They don’t really qualify as food, but Bips was ravenous whenever he was given one. He would give his entire focus to chewing, clawing, spinning, and even crawling through the tubes. Once we even saw him get sleepy and take a quick nap mid-tearing, and then wake up shortly thereafter and go at it with the same excitement and vigor.

Something that Bips always loved was getting into his purple plastic ball and exploring around Wesley’s home. He would chase with Henrietta the kitten, and would play games with Wesley and his toys.

Here he is fearlessly and courageously helping to defeat some ghouly villains:

Assisted by his #1 side kick kitty, Super Henrietta:

Or is she really the evil Dr. Meow Meow in disguise?!

Here is a picture of a new toy we bought for Bips that Wesley could put together into various shapes and configurations, like building blocks. Bips LOVED this new addition to his abode and would oftentimes nap on it, under it, and in it.

Though the time we shared with Bips seemed too short, it was always full of fun, joy, and new experiences. We will miss him and always remember him.

What a cute little gerbil.

If anyone would like to share a story or a thought or anything at all about Mr. Bips, please feel free to do so in a comment. And a special thank you to Mrs. Becker for the opportunity to take care of Mr. Bips. We have learned much, and loved much.

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