This just sucks, I thought I had years before I would have to request
a greeting for Merlin. My baby has been taken from me all too soon.
I know as a good mommy, you are not supposed to have favorites, but
Merlin was my favorite. It was a secret I told only to him. He was the
one responsible for renewing my love and devotion to ferrets -- he
came to me through a set of strange circumstances that I will forever
be grateful for. He was the sweetest, most well-behaved ferret ever...
everyone fell in love with him as soon as they met him. Always an
extremely laidback gentleman, he was a fantastic ambassador for
ferrets, as well as, a perfect friend and guardian to the other
fuzzbutts that entered our lives, and to me. He was always so patient
with the ill-mannered kits, was there to give cuddles to those that
needed it, matched his play style to whoever he was playing with, and
even took over all litterbox training duties for me. If he saw someone
trying to go potty outside of the box, he would drag them to the box
and lay in front of it until they were finished. I feel like I simply
cannot do justice to how amazing my Merlin was to me, words simply
can't do it. I still don't know what happened. I noticed this last week
that he had just the slightest bit of wobbliness in his hind-end, and
his spleen seemed swollen; but at a month shy of being 6, he was still
spritely and active, bouncy around and playing without a care in the
world. I've been giving him lots and lots of extra belly-rubs and
chin-rubs and I made a note to myself to go see the vet after
Thanksgiving, but he never made it. The day after Thanksgiving, we
noticed that he hadn't really been out most of the day, and upon
looking for him, found him peacefully curled up in one of his favorite
blankets - at least he got to leave in his sleep. Maybe he missed his
buddy Deuce that left for the Bridge last month, or maybe he just
wanted to spare his mommy the pain of seeing disease ruin his body (he
would do something like that), I don't know. I just know that he left
way too early, and it hurts something fierce.

Dearest Bridgegreeters, I never talked to Merlin about the Rainbow
Bridge, as I thought that we had so much time left together, so he will
probably be scared; of course, he won't show it. Always the gentleman,
he will do whatever you tell him. Saraferret has greeted the two
friends that he will have waiting for him, his old buddy Deuce and
"little sister" Lily (the one with the funny southern accent from
hanging out with the Texas ferrets); so maybe she could help him out
too? I hope it's not too much to ask, I just want to make sure that he
makes it there safely, and that someone makes sure he will get all the
belly rubs and chinny rubs that he could ever want. Also, please let
him know that he is very much missed by the "Three Stooges" that he
left behind, Chewy, Freckles, and Sassy. Even more so, he will be
missed by his grandma and his mommy, who hasn't stopped crying since
he left.

So Bridgegreeters, please be on the lookout for a good-sized, gorgeous
silver panda boy. Please let him know that it's going to be okay, and
that we will meet again someday, and that his mommy loved him more than
words can possibly express. I know that each baby that we lose takes a
piece of our heart with them, but I am feeling like he may have taken
nearly the whole thing; however I'm sure he will be willing to share
all that love. Thank you so very much for checking on my baby, and I
apologize for the length of this request.....I tried to do justice to
the memory of my Merlin, but I fear that my simple words have failed.

Thank you so very much for all that you do, Bridgegreeters.

Merls, you will be forever missed.....thank you for all that you have
taught me.

Betsy and The Remaining FuzzButts: Chewy, Freckles, and Sassy

[Posted in FML 6896]