LIBERACE VALENTINO, the beloved 3 year old hamster belonging to Boswell and Abigail Simpson of Sweetwater passed away Friday of injuries received when Boswell Jr. dropped a 10# weight from a bar bell and squished him. The pet was well known for his ability to set at a tall piano and pound on it with his nose. He was very proud of the blue sequined jacket that Mrs. Simpson made for him to wear at local concerts. His favorite tune was "You Are My Sunshine" which he played by request at every chance. His parents were unknown and he was adopted in the spring of 1998. As a member of the family his death at such a young age is a shock to everyone. Memorial services will be held at Rudolph's Pet and Fish in Sweetwater on Friday at 2 pm with a covered dish lunch following. Cremation has been considered.

This obituary was put in the local paper on Tuesday and the missus and I are pretty tore up about Liberace's sudden death and I just wanted to share our loss with you fine people at Unc's Wild West. I apologize for cuttin in to some people here and I'll do better.

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), January 25, 2001

Answers

Boz, he is in a better place now. (assuming he was a Christian hamster)

-- (nemesis@awol.com), January 25, 2001.

Would that per chance be Sweetwater, Texas Bos? Home of the famous “Hamster Round-up’ held every year in March. Yummm!

-- Tastes (just@like.chicken), January 25, 2001.

Would that per chance be Sweetwater, Texas Bos?

Nope; my guess would be the Sweetwater which is down the road from Lapwai, up the road from Culdsac and near Slickpoo.

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), January 25, 2001.

I appreciate you thoughtfulness Nemesis. I'm not that old and my wife and I have never went thru a loss quite like this. Lib was close to us and like dogs can be to some companions, the hampster lived with us in harmony and his actions and thoughts were geared toward our happiness and wellbeing. I've been around animals always and have never been attached to any such as this one. Abby ask me yesterday how on earth can we ever replace him? Even the people in the community feel some pain because of the contribution he gave to them in the form of his music. The concerts will always be of special memory because of the joy and laughter he brought to them and most especially this last Christmas. Some people take Jingle Bells for granted, but when the young children heard him tap that on the piano after their Christmas play I just can't describe it!

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), January 25, 2001.

Boswell,

So sorry for your loss. As an aside, I have a question: are you any relation to Homer (Simpson) or OJ?

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), January 25, 2001.

No Aunt Bee, my people all come from out of Missouri. I know what you mean because that's one of my favorite shows, I guess because the names are the same. But I don't know what you mean by OJ?

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), January 25, 2001.

Just wanted everyone to know that the services went wonderfully well yesterday. The Vet fixed him up proper so we were able to have an open casket funeral. The local citizenry filed by for fifteen minutes to see the tiny fellow who brought joy to their lives. Mr. Philbin, the music instructor suggested that we dismountle his little piano and bury it with him and we agreed to it. He would have liked that! Abby and I could not stand the thought of that piano sittin empty in the corner without Liberace pounded that ivory and doing his magic. He was with us a short time but he is in our hearts and memory forever!

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), January 27, 2001.