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Rando
Sheba sniffing for goodies
THE GERBILS
Rando lived a long and happy three years. He passed away quietly and unexpectedly September 27 at his home in Griffith. He appeared to have been sleeping when he died. His brother and cagemate, Sheba, was at first only confused. Within a few days, he was clearly depressed — not eating, not chewing, not moving, uninterested even in giant hands descending into his cage. Six days after his brother died, he too passed away, on October 3.
Rando & Sheba on arrival, Aug. '98
Gerbil Kleenex
We used the false names Rando and Sheba at the February Formal at Wheaton College and commemorated the silliness by naming our gerbils after the memory. Steve's alias, Rando, was pulled from the credits of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie, where the Incredible Rando is said to do battle with Eastman. Rando the gerbil lived up to his illustrious reputation. Rando was bigger and adventurous, a smooth, uniform gray. Sheba the name was spur-of-the-moment silly. Sheba was a sweet gerbil, content at home, a soft brown with a silky white tummy.
Rando in his ball
A bathroom romp
They enjoyed sunflower seeds, exploring their cage — and the greater world outside when we didn't close the cage tightly — and being our personal shredders. Rando didn't mind when the giants picked him up. Sheba grew to tolerate it. Both of them loved us as sources of treats and cardboard, though.
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Sheba eating his favorite treat
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Rando consenting to pose
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We buried the gerbils together, as they loved to be in life. We sent them on their way in true Viking style with lots of cardboard, vitamins, leftover treats, and some bedding.
We're sad that our gerbil time has come to an end, just a couple short months before we leave Indiana. But we know that they were happiest together, and we also know that the trip to Seattle would have been a rough one. That doesn't make it easier for us, but we think it's easier on them.
We miss you, Rando & Sheba.
Sheba & Rando, peaceful and close in happier times
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