From: "Bill Cole" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Gerbils Newsletter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 7:42 PM
Subject: Ooops ... joke's on me
| I'm new at all this and pretty casual in my attitudes about gerbils
| (although I do care for and admire them mightily). I've posted twice,
| referring to the cat's three female gerbil pets, age 4-5 months.
|
| Since you all seem like such nice people, thought I'd share the
following
| email that I sent to far-flung family and ex-wife. The family is
| gerbil-ignorant but all animal lovers. The email is on Birth
Announcement
| stationery.
| ==============
| Fed the gerbils a little late today. Missed the birth of six pups.
|
| You remember the gerbils? Those three females that inhabit what I used
to
| call The Nunnery, and now is named for a women-only residence hotel, The
| Barbizon? Well, there seems to be an impostor among them.
|
| The six hairless, blind, deaf, pink, one-inch critters seem to be
fine -- so
| far as one can tell when they're in that condition. I believe Gloria is
| Mom -- else she slimmed down mighty fast from those extra pounds I was
| beginning to worry about. And without intruding to inspect thoroughly,
I
| believe Jeannie is Gene -- the little rascal.
|
| All three adults appear delighted with the surprise. I sprinkled dry
milk
| on their food, and Gloria went for it. Some lengths of toilet paper are
| being shredded and arranged as I write. I hadn't read the gerbil book
part
| that deals with these events, so powdered milk and extra bedding
material
| came up on a quick scan. My impression is that I don't have much of a
role
| here. But I'll prolly find they need bassinets, diaper service, little
baby
| carriage for six ...
|
| I'll assume you want to congratulate the parents, so I will. (Aunt?)
Sally
| also is proud, and in fact was cuddling over the pups when I first found
| them.
|
| I've been getting the (very active!) Gerbil Newsletter. Chuckled over
the
| nice-sounding girl who bought two females; found one had come from the
| store pregnant only when it gave birth; agonized over telling her
parents;
| and today crowed with relief that she had told, and that the folks were
| pretty cool.
|
| Also have been awed that, non-commercially, people have 70, 85, 101 of
the
| little sweeties. After today I need to remind myself: THIS is how they
all
| started.
|
| Anyone want a new pet or two or six? Anyone want Gene, a terrific guy
and
| proven sire, if somewhat underhanded?
|
