RIP, Reeah as I knew her

[Zoom]

When I was 12 years old, I walked into the local petstore, never dreaming that a snake was something you could have as a pet. But there they were, waiting behind glass. For months afterwards, I saved my money, begged the rest off my parents, and walked into the petstore in the mall with almost $150. I had done my research. Baby ball pythons cost $99 here, the mesh terrarium, $40, the first few mice, a few bucks.
She was tiny. Less than a foot long, and all her scales we so small they gave her this incredible soft texture. The lady told me she was six weeks old, female, and bound to be a big'un. I named her Reeah, mostly because I was huge into Deltora Quest at that time.

Six and a half years, and four feet later. We've been through a lot together. Not that she noticed. Don't buy a snake if you're looking for a pet; you'll get a collector's item or bragging right.
Still, I'm attached to her. You can't grow up with something and not be. So, eventually, I realize it's time to sell her, too a good home.
You see, most of the ball pythons around here go to kids looking to brag about the only thing they have (an 'inability' to fit in) and drug dealers who stuff the snakes full of rats, and then mistake obesity for real size. Ever seen a snake with rolls? It ain't pretty.
It's time for her to go for two reasons. One, though I had believed that this was my burden to shoulder, I realized that as long as I sold her to a good home I was still doing the right thing. Two, I'll be moving out this summer. No sense making my appt+roomie search any harder. Three, if there's more to a snake's life than eating and sleeping, she wasn't getting it here.

So I put an ad on Kijiji, and pretty soon got an interested buyer that I was happy about selling Reeah to. I wrote instruction manuals on how to feed her the way she likes it.

And on Feb 20, 2013, this woman and her boyfriend drove to my place, gave me $120, and drove away with a snake.

But they didn't drive away with Reeah.

I told them her name was Arizona.

So, they now have a ball python named Arizona, and I kept the ball python named Reeah to myself, albiet in spirit.

This is me just writing it down. It feels like I should write it down.

[Jade]

Awe, I'm sorry. Regardless of what animal it is, it's still a beloved pet. I lost three cats to coyotes, methinks and it's so devastating. I loved those little rascals and then one day they never came home. I'm so paranoid now that little Roxanne (the cat on the left of my signature picture) and Murdoch (the black cat on the right) have curfews and are locked in my room all night. I don't have the heart to keep them inside all day as indoor cats. A short happy life is better than a long depressing on and at least I can give my cats a happy life--I just hope they'll be with me now for a long time.

[Genesis]

I feel ya sis

[Zoom]

Good for you for letting them out; I think you're right. Our friends had a rabbit who wasn't getting much fun time - the kids had moved out and the parents were busy. It basically ate and slept. Eventually it started biting, my guess because it was so bored. They found a nice populated area with berries and clover and let him out. Of course we don't know what happened to him but I like to pretend it was something nice.

[sapphire]

I'm sorry, Zoom. Losing a pet is so hard, no matter how you have to give them up.

I had snakes, too, though I was considerably younger. The garter snake, Slick, died after he escaped his tank while we were on vacation. Slither, a Northern Pine, we kept until she was pretty old and slowing down. My dad drove her out to a field one day while we were at school and set her free, so I like to think she died happy.

[Zoom]

"I like to think she died happy."
I think all living creatures should die outside, in the sun and grass.

[Genesis]

...but not goldfish.

[Zoom]

Haha, well, I guess if you put a goldfish outside in the sun and grass, it'll die there.