On January 6, 2018, I rescued two adorable Abyssinian guinea pigs — one orange and one black. The ginger girl I named Ruby. Rubies symbolize just about anything positive you can think of. Good luck, power, passion, wealth, success, protection, love — in the case of my little guinea pig Ruby, love is number one. In Greek mythology, rubies symbolize the sun as its warmth could melt wax and boil water. Throughout history warriors carried a ruby talisman for protection in battle. Chinese noblemen decorated their armor with rubies. In ancient Myanmar warriors went even further and embedded rubies into their skin. Ancient Hindus valued rubies above all other gemstones. Called Ratnayake, meaning “leader of all precious stones,” rubies would be offered by Hindus to the god Krishna so they could be reborn as an emperor. Royals have decorated their crowns and helmets with rubies for protection and to signify their wealth and power. And let’s not forget the magical powers in Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. My furry little guinea pig has lived up to her name and brought me a wealth of enjoyment. When I think that I might have named her Ginger, I’m so glad I was swayed to the treasured gemstone instead, she is such a precious Ruby.