When there is no one else to turn too, sometimes a little objectivity from yourself is the best medicine (or a few hours of pillage...).

One image came to mind with Ruby. Something I even blew up at Jason about. The reason I chose that particular sort of snake as well as the look was an afterthought.

In the aftermath of a horrible week, I had a glimmer of something a little raw, yet humorous.
What would Ruby do if she was here now? Her spirit actually molded what I originally thought she was going to be. Cold, indifferent, aggressive.
She was none of these things.
She was greedy. If you put food in front of her, she would take it down, violently if need be. That was the nature of the beast. However, she also was curious. Many a time I would find her simply resting her head and watching me work around the house, while I played games and such.
Taking her out and spending time with her, she would pull my hair out of a ponytail and hide in it. Funny thing looking in the mirror and seeing her head poked out after she styled it to her specifications.
She had a thing for Jason's glasses. She, as well as Evergreen would take them off all the time.
When I went about working on things with her out, she was shy in a world of vertical mobility. Falling asleep while I played Skyrim all night long. I beat it with her at my side.
Her adventure as a "Trouser Snake" when she escaped into Jason's dresser and hid under his thermal underwear.
Just the mere fact that she put up with me. Someone who attempted to project this image on her.
The moment we met, when I flipped her upside down and dumped her unceremoniously into her carrier, she rattled her tail and hissed, the only defense a earthworm sized baby can muster.
I was pretty sure she would always hate me.
Then situations when she was shedding and looked for help eventually came to pass. In all the years I have had her, she has never had a bad shed. She would shine as her new skin shone through. A pretty Ruby, good as new.

Animals come into our lives and enrich them. Ruby never survived to what would be half her lifetime. Barely 6 years old and in that short time, she gave me pause and a little wisdom.
The image I had in mind when I got her was perfect for what I THOUGHT she was going to be. Instead, she projected her personality into my image.
As for what that image is now, I'll leave a mystery, suffice to say she survives in the body of my work here.
And each moment I see her, I can only feel the grateful for the time we spent together and smile.