Missing a dear friend

Last night my dear chinchilla friend, Howie, past away. He was 7 1/2 years old. He had some rough times over the past year with his teeth and just getting old. Howie was a wonderful pet. He was my first real pet other than a few fish and a turtle for a couple months. I have never lost a pet like this before. Howie was part of the family and will be greatly missed. Just this morning Benjamin kept leaning toward Howie's room to go play with him (part of our morning routine) and it brought me to tears thinking about how he isn't there to play with anymore and Benjamin won't ever really know Howie.
Howie you are loved and greatly missed!