Packing Up The Year
It was the end of the school year, and like many teachers, I was busy packing up my classroom, which now included a new, unexpected member—Josh Peterson, the guinea pig. Josh was all set to spend the summer in my laundry room, and neither of us was overly thrilled about it.
Periodically, I had small pets in the classroom. Josh Peterson found his way to my 6th-grade class when one of my students, eager to offload a pet their parent was tired of, offered him up as a classroom donation. How nice for them…I mean, us.
It Was A Dark And Stormy Night
Josh had been home for a couple of weeks, and it was time to clean out his cage. Since it was a lovely summer day, I decided some fresh air might be good for him. We hauled the cage outside and set about giving it a thorough cleaning while Josh lounged in the shade.
Fast-forward to 2:30 a.m. A loud clap of thunder and lightning jolted us out of our sleep, causing us to sit up and scream together—“THE GUINEA PIG!” My husband sprang into action like a hero in a classic thriller, defying the elements to run to Josh Peterson’s rescue.
I had the towel ready, and we quickly began to dry and warm up the shivering, wet Josh. Alas, by morning, Josh was no longer with us. He had succumbed to the elements. We were left to find a shoebox and plan his burial.
A Heartfelt Farewell
The funeral took place in a shady spot under our big pine tree. Our young son was asked to say a few words. As he talked about Josh Peterson, he marked his grave with an “N.” Wait? What? Yes, an N for “Nebraska Horncuskers”—the most sacred of all teams (even if he couldn’t pronounce it).
It was a tragic, while completely unintended, end to Josh Peterson’s life in 6th grade.
Key Takeaways
What can Josh’s short but furry life teach us?
- Enjoy every moment. We never know when life may throw an unexpected situation at us.
- Even with the best intentions, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Make the best of a bad situation, and then move on.
- Sometimes, situations are just too crazy to make up! Go with the flow, and know that life is going to throw some memory-makers at you along the way.
- Appreciate the small things. It’s often the little moments and creatures that leave the biggest impact on our lives.
Ever had an unfortunate event of your creation, maybe one you wish you could undo? Those “You Can’t Make It Up” moments are everywhere! Send in your best, and we’ll share it in a future post!
Jane