A
few weeks ago, my friend Rita sent me this video on Facebook Messenger.
It
was clear she thought this was beyond hilarious and we exchanged messages with
laughing emojis. On a whim, I googled “stress pig.” Of course, I found it on the
Zon and without a second thought, I purchased it for her. Then I texted her
husband that he should expect a package in two days.
Despite
a small kerfuffle, it arrived on time, and this is the picture she sent me.
The
next morning, I received this.
The
following morning, I got this text.
I
cannot even begin to describe the joy I felt from finding a way to make my
friend this happy. She’s been through a lot in the last two years. I mean a LOT.
This
is a friend, really a sister, who has been there for me in every way. Her
emotional and financial support, her willingness to listen to my challenges and
bear witness to my sadness and grief, and most of all, her ability to make me
feel loved and appreciated have anchored me when I feared I would float
away.
To
have watched her go through what she’s experienced knowing there was nothing I
could do to make it better has been hard. So every time I received a text, I
felt like the sun had just come out.
The
next one said “I slapped him a couple of times across the face
yesterday… and I think it must have turned him on! He might be into bondage!
I’ve never had so much fun with an inanimate object!” accompanied by
this photo.
Over
the next couple of days, these were sent.
In
fact, Rita grew so fond of him, she decided to name him Hammy Sammich. Until her
husband came up with Hammy Slammich!
Every
time I spoke with her, the pig was front and center in the conversation. The
sand-filled pink squishy swine has brought joy to her in ways I haven’t seen in
a long time. Her laughter was all I needed, even on days when I was
struggling.
Fast
forward a week and this was waiting for me on the package rack of my
building.
She
bought a set so I could give one to my mom! Now it was time for me to have some
fun. Take that you Made-in-China squishbomb even if you are getting toxic
chemicals all over my hands!
When
I called Rita to ask for permission to tell this story, she shared that she’d
bought her daughter a set and when she demonstrated how to hold it by its tiny
feet and and slammed it on the table, they collapsed in laughter. Then her
daughter, a new mom, asked “Where has this been my whole life?”
Rita
also gifted a set to a friend in Utah who sends her videos of the pigs in her
car when they’re out for a drive.
And
when her friend’s husband gave them a bath and set the pair on the windowsill
wrapped in a towel and texted a picture, Rita declared, “Pigs in a blanket!”
which spiraled them into fits of laughter.
Who
knew one little pig could bring so much joy?
The
world is a dumpster fire. As the darkness that has always existed comes to the
light, it can be difficult to remember to find joy in stupid silly things. If
you think this pig could be your stupid silly thing, you
can get one here (I get nothing if you decide to buy one).
If
Hammy Slammich isn’t your jam, my wish for you is that you find what is. Life is
too short and unpredictable not to find joy in the silliest places.
I
haven’t named mine yet, so I’m open if you have any ideas. And trust me when I
tell you there is incredible satisfaction to be had from slapping, twisting and
slamming this cloven-hoofed porcine.
Have
a great weekend!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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