A delightful breeze was sweeping over the fields of the FoxGloves.
Muldoone sat transfixed watching the colors sway to and fro dancing to
the movement of air upon their tall gracious stalks.  FoxGloves were
Muldoone's favorite out of all the flowers that grew at the Rainbow
Bridge.  He not only admired their beauty but this was also his special
place he came to when he wanted to get away to think; his heart felt
heavy in his chest and a dark sadness tugged at his soul.  Too many
ferrets had left the their earthly homes lately, embarking on a journey
that brought them to the Rainbow Bridge.  MoonBeam Molly had been even
more sad and solemn lately as she made the flights back and forth
bringing ferrets that had passed.  Oftentimes when a fuzzy arrived at
the Rainbow Bridge he or she would be greeted by many former family
members, ferrets who had already passed and were overjoyed to be
reunited with an old friend who brought news from home.
 
The life of a ferret was much too short, and Mully had decided that is
why ferrets played with such zest and zeal.  If you only have so much
time to do all that living then you had better live flat out like a
lizard drinking if you want to get it all in.
 
Making his way back to the center of the Rainbow Bridge Village Muldoone
wondered if there would be any new ferrets to come that day, so many had
come lately.  Sometimes he regretted the position he was in; greeting
ferrets as they arrived.  Why had he been picked over so many other
ferrets that resided at the Rainbow Bridge?  Most of the time he enjoyed
what he did, even as bossy as Nanna was, he enjoyed the close working
relationship he had with the older ferret but there were times he longed
for days with nothing more to do than wake up when he wanted to, crawl
out of his hammy when he was ready to and lie in green fields and ponder
what to do with the rest of his day.
 
Arriving back at the Rainbow Bridge Village, Muldoone saw a small
gathering of ferret with Nanna in the center and everyone seemed to be
looking for something, heads were turning this way and that as if on a
swivel.  Suddenly a voice rose and a furry arm raised and pointed "dere
he be Mz Nanna, I tells you he not goes far 'way."
 
Nanna immediately came hurrying over to Muldoone with a stern look on her
face.  "Where have you been young man?  We have been looking everywhere
for you" Nanna scolded him.
 
"Uh Nanna, I goes for a walk, I not bees gone" Mully told his boss.
 
"Muldoone, we have looked everywhere for you and no one could find you,
maybe you better tell me where you go on these long walks of yours"
Nanna demanded of her junior Bridge greeter.
 
Uh-oh Muldoone thought to himself, I no can wets Nanna knos I goes and
sees da FoxieGwoves, dat not 'xactly be a guy fewet kind of ting.  "I
goes for a walk Nanna, no pwace specialies, honest" and then he flashed
his best grin at his boss.
 
"Muldoone, we have three new ferret due to arrive at the Bridge this
morning so we need to be getting there now" Nanna told him.  "I have
helpers out finding their family members to be present for their arrival.
Lets get to the Bridge."
 
The little group arrived at the Bridge with Nanna barking orders telling
everyone where to stand and what to do as if they had not done this many
times before.  Nanna was such a stickler for detail, she insisted on
everything being absolutely perfect.
 
The lights over the Bridge began to dance and swirl; colors more
beautiful than ever seen on earth now painted the sky.  The colors
blended and then changed again; shades of pink gave way to peach and
yellows then changed to a soft green that blended into a delicate blue
that gave itself over to shades of lavender.  A fine soft fairy dusting
began to swirl all around Muldoone, Nanna, and the others.
 
Muldoone, Nanna, Bailey, Freckles, Dude, and Libby all joined paws
forming a perfect circle of love.  A little ferret by the name of LadyBug
stood off a bit to the side, she had been invited to be present for two
of the ferret due to arrive; Diablo and Shade of Night
 
A second group of ferrets were there to greet one of their own; Princess
Beana Underfoot, IB Underfoot (the gentle giant and the princess'
enforcer) and CC (Chatty Cathy) Underfoot who would introduce Kaptin
Nemo to Princess Anne and Prince George, Count Chocula, Angelique Clair
were there to greet Kaptin Nemo.
 
The groups of ferrets closed their eyes and concentrated on those making
their way to the Bridge.  In the hearts of the group, they were sending
their love for those being brought by MoonBeam Molly, the magical unicorn
who transported ferrets to the Rainbow Bridge after they had passed.  The
group of ferrets were not only helping to light the way for those coming
but also they were sending prayers of love for the humans who had loved
the fuzzies; precious little lives cut short, leaving behind a
broken-hearted ferret moms and dads.
 
In the center of the circle stood SodaFerret, tall and handsome as he
began to sing the song of love to the ferrets making their way to the
Bridge.  His voice was deep and rich, every note sang perfectly, every
word wrapped in love for those who were coming.  The Ferret Promise Song
now filled the air with its bittersweet refrain.  The melody of love
told the story of hope and promise and also of sorrow and loss all tied
together in the cycle of life.  The song explained pain fading away, of
limbs being made strong again, and eyes once more bright, it told of the
sorrow of passing and the joy waiting in the Promise.  As Soda sang the
sad sweet song, he also sang a song of love for the humans whose hearts
had been broke by the passing of their ferrets, tears falling like rain
inside the broken hearts.
 
Arriving at the Rainbow Bridge and after doing a perfect four-hoof
landing, MoonBeam Molly lowered herself to the ground so her tiny
passengers could climb down.  The ferret group disembarked cautiously,
not exactly sure where they were.  Off in the distance the new arrivals
could see a group of ferrets standing at the other end of the Bridge.
The wooden timbers of the Bridge were worn smooth from time and also from
the many ferrets that had made the crossing, having left behind a world
as they knew it and coming to the Rainbow Bridge to wait to be reunited
with their humans.  Diablo, Shade of Night, and Kaptin Nemo all joined
paws and began to make their way across the Bridge to the group at the
other side waiting to greet them.
 
Just as the three ferrets stepped off the end of the Rainbow Bridge,
Muldoone offered his nose to the newcomers in a friendly greeting.  "I
be Misser Muldoone, officialist Wainbow Bwidge Gweeter and wees all be
here to welcomes you.
 
"Hello Diablo, Shade of Night, and Kaptin Nemo" Nanna told the little
ferret group, "my name is Nanna and I have come to welcome you to the
Rainbow Bridge" and gesturing to the small group of ferrets, Nanna
introduced each one to her.  "There is nothing to be afraid of" Nanna
told the new arrivals, "you each have touched the horizon with your
heart, your journey is now at an end, and you are home."
 
Diablo and Shade of Night's eyes lit up when they saw the face of
LadyBug, an old friend from home and they were immediately hugging and
kissing, obviously overjoyed to be together again.  "How be our mom
doin?" LadyBug Ferret wanted to know, "I wants to hears everyting bout
home" she announced excitedly.
 
Kaptin Nemo had several there to greet him as well and his business
wasall excited to see him and hear all about the goings on at home.
Princess Beana Underfoot, IB Underfoot (the gentle giant and the
princess' enforcer) and CC (Chatty Cathy) Underfoot, Prince George,
Count Chocula, and Angelique Clair, some of who he had never met but
they were all connected by having been loved and having loved the same
human back on earth.
 
Muldoone was busy eyeing the backpack Kaptin Nemo was wearing and
wondering what he brought from home.  Some ferrets came bringing things
from home and others did not but from the way this guy's backpack was
bulging he must have had some dandy goodies in it.  Mully then noticed
Nanna eyeing the backpack as well and he couldn't help but giggle to
himself thinking, even Nanna be curious bout dis guy.
 
"Kaptin Nemo, it appears you have brought several items with you from
home, would you like some help getting unpacked?" Nanna asked the new
comer.
 
"Uh wells ma'am, I not bees sur, we hads a hard time gettin everyting in
da bag and it bees full" Nemo told Nanna.
 
"Yes I can see that it is very full, I can see that from here" Nanna told
the little ferret.  "Would you like to tell us what all you brought with
you?" she asked him.
 
"Uh well ma'am, I bwings my wed wobster squeaker and my weezlie ball, my
mom's feetsie covers, and dis odder big ting that fwoats on da water.
Dat horsie da bwings us has a hard time makin it all fits in da bag"
Nemo told the group.
 
Making a mental note to herself, Nanna decided it would be nice to repay
the unicorn for her extra efforts by going by the stable later offering
MoonBeam Molly an extra feeding of the molasses oats she loved so well.
 
"A water toy" was heard murmuring through the crowd of ferrets.  "Dat
bees neat."
 
"Wiff help, I can shows you all hows to use it" Nemo told the group,
"dat be why I called Kaptin Nemo, I sails it" and having made that
announcement Kaptin Nemo's chest puffed out a little further as he
stood moreproud and errect.
 
Reaching deep into the pocket of her apron, Nanna produced a handful of
raisins for the group of ferrets, of course having to remind Muldoone to
take only one.  Looking around at the group of ferrets, all three new
arrivals with their respective family members, Nanna drew a long sigh
and smiled.  Since you have family members here to greet you, I think I
will let them show you around at the Rainbow Bridge and help you to get
settled.
 
"And water I shows you how to cwimb da wings of da Rainbow Bwidge sooes
you can peeks in on yur familees" SodaFerret promised the ferrets.
 
"Dat be gweat" all three ferrets exclaimed.
 
As Nanna gave all three new arrivals a welcoming hug she turned to make
her way down the path.
 
Muldoone thought to himself now is as good a time as any to find out.
"Hey guys, dooes you wike fwannel nightiegowns??  Gurl fewet fwannel
nightiegowns?"
 
Charging back up the patch with her tail resembling a bottle brush Nanna
hissed at him "MULDOONE I HEARD THAT!"
 
~~Muldoone~~
Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge.
 
http://mrmuldoone.bravehost.com/index.html
[Posted in FML issue 5250]