[Posted in 2 parts... combined... BIG]
 
Well, it's all over and I survived.  In fact, I had a great time meeting
so many wonderful ferret people.  It was great to finally put faces with
names.  With all the "stuff" going on with the FML right now, it also
reminded me that it's so easy to flame, judge and misunderstand another
human being from behind the safety of a computer screen.  Anyone can be 7
feet tall when no one's looking, especially when you can't see the hurt
and pain and confusion on the faces of the recipients of those nasty
e-mails I've been the recipient many times and, as much as I hate to admit
it, I've also been 7 feet tall and full of myself.  That having been said:
 
Kat Parsons wrote:
>anyway!!..got to meet lots of wonderful people!!!...someone who just stole
>MY heart was Kim Schilling...she is just the cutest little thing!!!..  and
>so sweet and funny!!!!...FuzzieDad, ron, surprised me with an autographed
>copy of her book...i can not wait to get to it!!!!..thank you ron...:)
>Yes...this is me, kat parsons, ferret-a-holic, admitting a HUMAN...NOT a
>FERRET!...[although i believe she DOES have ferret blood in her]...stole
>my heart at a ferret show... yes..i see you all shaking your head in
>absolute disbelief!!!!...but believe it..she is THAT special!!!
 
<grin> Thank you, Kat.  You make me smile!  When I walked in the front
door, I just about died when I saw where they set me up.  I was right there
in front of the entrance..bare, vulnerable, exposed ICK, UGH!  I was just
about to ask Norm to move me to a corner spot, when a few very friendly
ferret people caught me off guard and the book signing was off and running.
During a quick break a little lady (almost as tall as me - hahahahaha)
came up and introduced herself as Kat.  She must have sensed my "Kat who?"
expression as she pointed to her tee shirt and ran her finger across the
"KAT PARSONS Fuzzy Mom" on the front.  Crap!  An FML person hehehe.  Well,
turns out I had the best seat in the show - right next to Kat and her
husband and Ron Carter (should I post the picture on my website???).  I
think you 3 made my day!  Lots of fun.  I felt instantly comfortable with
you, Kat, although I do owe you (you know what they say about paybacks) for
dragging me off and FORCING me to buy 4 ferret tee shirts because I had
the nerve to show up in a cougar/wolf shirt.  Yes, Kat threatened to kick
me out of the show But she went easy on me and actually made me like her,
even though I really don't like people.  Ok, well maybe I like a few.  And
thanks for the totally cool ferret afghan!  I really wish you could've
stayed and gone for dinner and drinks with us later!  But it's probably
a good thing you don't live closer, cuz we'd get in a hell of a lot of
trouble together!
 
Ron Carter wrote:
>Kim Shilling - Thanks for signing the books for me.  Thanks even more for
>the great conversation we had throughout the day.
 
Ron, you were the first "stranger" (not strange guy) to come up and
introduce yourself.  You broke the ice for me and made me feel comfortable
with your contagious smile and sincerity.  Thank you!  Your ferrets are
simply gorgeous!  I don't think I could be a ferret judge.  They all seem
"blue ribbon" to me.  It was a pleasure meeting you, and I enjoyed the
opportunities we had to visit and chat!  Thanks for your support!
 
Ron Carter wrote:
>Judy - What can I say?  You are still you.  One of these days people will
>realize that they don't need to shut you out of their lives just because
>they don't know what to say about White Russian.  Folks Judy is human,
>just tell her you feel for what she is going through and love her even
>more.  Then dig into your pockets and give some money to the collection
>that she is doing for ADV research.
 
I really don't keep up with the FML much anymore, but curiosity has taken
over lately and here I am.  I don't know what's been said in the past about
Judy.  All I know is that I was so glad I got to meet her.  What a super
lady!
 
Lisette wrote:
>I was able to see Kim Schilling and have her sign my book-"Ferrets for
>Dummies."  I just finished reading it.  I could have saved over $300 this
>year if I had read this book before my last vet trip.  Funny, engaging,
>complete, and honest: it was the best ferret book I have read to date.  I
>cannot think of anything left out.  Kim: I can see how it took you 3 years
>to write, and was excited for you seeing everyone mobbing you for a book.
 
Lisette, I'm glad you're enjoying the book and have such confidence in
it.  It was great meeting you at the show.  Every time I saw you, you
were smiling ear to ear!
 
Lisette wrote:
>Page 269 has a picture of Norm from GCFA.  And he is thanked in the
>authors acknowledgement with Julie and Sandy and Sukie and Jean and others
>from our FML.  Norm is one of the amazing people at GCFA that keeps the
>shelter open with his deep devotion.  I was delighted to see him honored
>in this book.
 
I can't even begin to express my feelings for Norm and Mary Stilson.  They
absolutely AMAZE me.  Norm has a special way with biting ferrets and I hope
everyone reads "Norm's Way" in the book.  Minor correction, though the book
is actually dedicated in part to them.  They trusted me enough to allow me
to bring home some of their precious shelter kids - my very first ferrets,
Simon, Oscar and Scooter.  They got me hooked!  Norm (who is well past
retirement age) works 40+ hours a week at a regular job and both he and
Mary put in over 40 additional hours EACH at the shelter every week.  I
get tired just watching them.  The GCFA volunteers are also wonderful and
incredibly devoted to helping the ferrets, but they desperately need
additional reliable volunteers over there.  If you live relatively close,
please consider giving some of your time to them!
 
What an awesome job Norm, Mary and the GCFA volunteers did to put together
a wonderful show!  I wish the turn out had been better for everyone there!
 
To everyone else I met (I'm bad with names, so please forgive my omissions)
- Bill and Diane Killian, Lisa Leidig, Dawn - Hey, we didn't get kicked
  out of Chili's, cuz we obviously didn't try hard enough
- Shirley and hubby, Julie Fossa, Dee, Margie, Ohio ferret people (I'm so
  bad) and everyone I'm forgetting (I'm a natural blonde) - You guys were
  all wonderful!
 
Kim "who the heck is she?" Schilling
www.animalsforawareness.org
[Posted in FML issue 3193]