Like most working people, Herself periodically daydreams about a time in the future when she will be able to retire from her current employment. What will she do then? So many possibilities; she does not even know where to begin.
Several years ago when she adopted a set of guinea pigs -- including Tobby -- from a guinea pig rescue, Herself contemplated whether she could run a similar guinea pig shelter. She has been extraordinary fond of small mammals ever since she was a small child, and knows that there will always be a need for safety and health care for neglected and unwanted pets. As time has gone by, though, the idea has passed from serious contemplation; Herself is well aware of the difficulties associated with 24-hour small animal husbandry, and is at the moment rather fatigued from caring for the household menagerie for so many years. Nevertheless, she does occasionally mention her forthcoming guinea pig farm: she quips that when she is tired of the world and runs away from home, she will live in a yurt with a herd of free-range guinea pigs.
Sunday night, Herself was chatting with long-term Acquaintance, and joked about her future guinea pig sanctuary. Acquaintance (who is three decades older than Herself) said, "That won't happen for a while; good, I'll be dead by then." Acquaintance then demonstrated why a demise before such an event would be good by pantomiming an imaginary conversation with a peer: "So, what is [Herself] doing these days?" "Oh, she is running a guinea pig sanctuary." ::look of amusement/horror as anticipated on peer's face::
Apparently, Acquaintance thinks there would be significant embarrassment associated with having to inform others that Herself's chosen occupation was Founder of a guinea pig sanctuary.
I think not.
We know that in the grand scheme of things, "Small Rodent Caretaker" is not a particularly glamorous or earth-shattering occupation. Nevertheless, it would do Good in a small corner of the world. How could working to benefit a group of humble living creatures be an embarrassment or an unworthy task? We are not all here to change the course of human history. Sometimes, the best we can hope for is to make a molecule of difference.
"Director of Cavy Haven" is not likely be Herself's ultimate profession. Until she finds what that might be, though, she will focus on doing the best she can in the job she currently has, and on looking after those whom she loves to the very best of her abilities. For now, that will be enough.
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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