2 years and some months ago I decided it was time to get a pet, unsure of what I wanted I walked into the pet store, I roamed around and then walked up to a glass aquarium full of Rats. "ick I thought, Rats who gets those as pets". My fiance walked up to me and asked if he could hold one so the lady walked over and opened up the top and out comes this little squirmy baby rat. I held her and automatically fall in love, she licks the skin on my hand and I tell Jon I NEED HER. We got the essentials and took her home, we named her Nazumi. As I sit there and admire my new little beauty, I also did some research, I found out that Rats are not only super intelligent but social animals. I then realized I wouldn't be able to spend all my time with her since I worked so Jon and I decided the next day we would go back and get one of her sisters. As we enter the pet store the second day we walked over to the same aquarium and I told Jon to pick one out since I chose the first time, he looked inside and saw this adorably shy rattie in the corner. He picked her up and said "this one" with a huge smile on his face, realizing the cage we had was made for one we upgraded and brought this terrified rat home, we named her Kasumi. The sisters were joyed to be back together and I was happy they had each other. I call myself the crazy rat lady jokingly all the time but I've come to realize it's true. I gave them antibiotics for their respitory infections, took them to the vet, and even turned my closet into a little rat play area. These rats are my children I told everyone and it was true in a way. I took care of them like they were kids to me lol. I remembered the night I felt Kasumi's tumor, it sprung up out of no where and I mean it felt like it happened over night, since I gave them weekly check ups myself. I was worried beyond belief and so was Jon, the next day I took her to the vet and she told me it happens to female rats and she was too old to go through surgery. We were flabbergasted, the only thing I could do was let her live a normal rat life. The tumor grew and it seemed like she shrunk, I spent as much time with her as I could. We got to spend one more Christmas with her and then the day came where she was skin and bones and her breathing seemed harder, every day I came home she wanted out into my arms almost like she was saying thank you, but it's time. I made another vet appointment but this one I knew would be her last. We said our goodbyes to her on January 31 when we made the decision it was time. My fiance and I brought her sister Nesumi with us incase she had to say goodbye to her friend,cagemate and sister. Jon held her while she took her last little rattie breaths. I guess what this blog was written for was to let whomever reads it to know that sometimes the unknown can be so beautiful. Kasumi was a little angel sent to us, and I'm glad I got to have her for two wonderful years! I hope she's running and eating all the chocolate she wants <3