Heart-shaped Hedgehog

For me, the year 2020 started and went on for a while in a very difficult way, and Covid was not the only one to blame.

2020 opened with circumstances that caused me so much agony I finally built the courage to extract myself from them. While I had newfound freedom and it was the best decision, such a change still brought pain and heartache.

Not long after the tumultuous event, I was able to find some joy and comfort again, and that was found in an adorable little creature I brought home and affectionately named Irving Wilberforce.

I think hedgehogs are worthy of bearing long-winded names, if on no other merit than how interesting and exotically cute they are. Big names just work for them, in my opinion.

Hence, combining my love for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (written by Washington Irving), and admiration of historic abolitionist William Wilberforce...my hedgie's title was born.

He usually goes by Irving. Sometimes "Buddy." Or "the peanut." He was the cutest little thing, and gave me someone to look after, play with, and snuggle with.

Yes, snuggle. Hedgehogs have quills, but when they are relaxed, their quills aren't all humped up and prickly. When Irving became relaxed with me, I could hold him without spikes getting jammed into my skin. I would hold him close to me, let him hide between layers of my clothing, and enjoy this little bundle of snuffly, sniffery cuteness. He gave me a distraction. He gave me something to love on and care for.

In May of 2020, I was staying with my grandparents and, after living in a trailer for a while, it was nice to wake up in a cozy room in a nice bed in an actual house.

Something I liked to do of a morning was to go into the other room where Irving's enclosure was kept (being a little creature of the night, he made too much noise to stay in my room), lift him out, take him back to my room, and snuggle with him in bed.

Being such a little guy, he was harder to cuddle than a dog or cat, but it's very doable, and very sweet when he was ok with it. That morning, I was snuggling my baby as I lay in bed. Having him in my arms, with his little fluffy tummy, tiny paws, and inquisitive, chocolate-chip nose, was a time of sweetness. I had a little friend who gave me joy. Who comforted me during a rough season. Who was there for me when I needed some furry, snuffly fun. Who would sniff in my ear and hide in my hair on my shoulder.

Hedgehogs are funny things. They get angry and huffy. But they ARE snuggable. They ARE lovable. My little Irving Wilberforce cuddling in bed with me, huddled in my arms, made my mornings just that much better. Irving brought brightness to moments that might have been more gray and silent without him.

My little hedgie was a gift during an emotionally hard time. I enjoyed snuggling with him (when he didn't potty on me). I had a charge to mind, and he was my own little baby. Being a tiny animal, he will never know how much happiness he brought me.

I don't snuggle in bed with Irving anymore. Now I snuggle with my husband, who is my greatest personal blessing on this earth. I went from a season of grief back to love and life.

But you know what? Irving Wilberforce came with me into my marriage. He no longer serves the same purpose he once did, but he's still my little guy, and now he brings joy to people we know who get to babysit him when we go out of town.

Irving has been with me in good times and bad. He has been my steady little companion that made transition after transition through life alongside me. He's no longer a baby hedgehog, but he is still my baby.

Thank you, Irving Wilberforce. Thank you for being my snuggle buddy.