Our Little Pinky

I left work last week and headed out to the Port Authority. I was planning on taking my usual 5:40PM bus, but I decided at the last minute to catch the 5:20PM bus to Red Bank/Exit 109. Mum and I had a few errands to run, so she was going to pick me up and we would just go from there. Once I arrived, we decided it would be best to first drop of the cheesecake I brought home for our bowling awards dinner, then head out on errands. So we went home , dropped off the cheesecake and started out again.

As we started up Locust Avenue, a small object on the sidewalk caught my eye. I thought immediately that is was an animal of sorts (maybe a mouse or mole), so I asked Mum to turn the car around quick and go back. She did, and I jumped out of the car to find a baby opossum just sitting on the sidewalk. She didn't budge, nor did she look ferocious as we all think opossums are. We looked around and there were no other opossums or any hint that she was with a group. She was just standing there all alone. So I picked her up, and we brought her home.

By the time we pulled in the driveway, she (yes, she had a little pouch so it was a she) had climbed all the way up into my jacket and was nuzzled in the sleeve section up by my armpit. I got into the house, and Mum and Pop-pop helped me get my jacket off. Mum ran out quick to pick up some baby formula and an eye dropper so we could feed her. She was the most adorable baby I have ever seen (aside from Frosty, our pirate hedgehog, of course). She moved around a bit, smelling and getting accustomed to her new surroundings, but after a few minutes, she was definitely ready for some food.

After feeding her and playing with her a bit, I decided she needed a name, and I decided on Pinky. She had a pink nose, pink toes, a pink tail and a pink little belly. She settled down in her warm towels, and I put her in the hedgehog's old aquarium. She was out like a light in no time. What an adventure she must have had losing her family and finding her way to the sidewalk. It's a good thing we drove by when we did!

My husband came home later that night, and he lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw Pinky. He had the sweetest expression on his face. I was feeding her one last time before bed, so he was able to play with her for a bit. Of course, he got his video camera out right away and started to film her (Pop-pop had taken a few photos of her earlier). Pinky fell for him right away, and they, too became good buddies.

We were able to take care of Pinky for almost a week, playing with her, feeding her and loving her to pieces (as well as getting a lot of video footage and pictures)! We also had a dose of what it's like to be real parents, as she had a crazy sleeping and feeding schedule. There were a couple of nights she was up at 3:00 and 4:00 in the morning, and one night when she wouldn't even settle down before 4:00AM. But we enjoyed our time with her all the same.

We will certainly never have an experience quite like this again, and I am so happy we had the opportunity to take care of her. Someone was looking out for Pinky when I decided to take the early bus home. If I hadn't taken that bus, we never would have had our time together.

Today, my husband, Mum and Pop-pop took Pinky to the Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey Township, NJ, where she will be taken care of by professionals and released back into the wild. I had a long talk with Pinky this morning before I left for work, and I told her to be strong and brave, and to fit right in with the other opossums at the zoo. I told her how much I loved her and would miss her, and my husband later told me that Pinky said she loved me, too.

Thank you God and Pinky for this wonderful opportunity. You will never be forgotten, our little Pinky.

No pirate fact today, maties. Please take a moment to visit the Popcorn Park Zoo website at http://www.associatedhumanesocieties.org/. It makes for a great day trip (especially if you have children--or a husband who loves emus), and the animals really need our love, friendship and support. Thank you.