Hello, this is Anna Ralya, come back after a long absence..  The first thing
I have to say is thank you very much for all the letters of support that you
sent to my husband... and for helping convince us not to let go of our
ferrets =) <sigh> They are wonderful, aren't they?  It's funny, because even
when you're feeling terrible and that there is no reason for you to be
anchored to a seemingly pointless daily grind, ferrets always seem to bring
a bit of sun wherever they go --- even when it seems like there is nothing
left in the world for you to care about, all it takes is a little
mischievous head to pop up from under your covers to make you rethink things
over --- in this case it was the Molecule (or Molly-cule, as we think of her
since she's so tiny) who decided to stop along her dooking path to say hi to
her ailing hooman bean.
 
It's very difficult to talk about this, but I feel that I have to just in
case there's a fellow clinical depressive out there who's thinking of giving
up their beloved companions because of any reason -- don't.  It really does
make a difference to see so many loving children come bounding up to your
bed and give you kisses and nip your toes to cheer you up; never mind that
they're hairy and er, fragrant and mischievous and look nothing like you
(but do resemble a certain hairy Uncle or Aunt =P).
 
After my husband brought me home from the hospital, I found that while I
couldn't stand having my closest friends near for even a little while, all
four fuzzies, with all their differences in temperament and opinions and
habits, were so wonderful to have nearby -- Molly curled up on my chest and
went to sleep, as if to keep me company, Obelix gave me solemn kisses while
occasionally thumping mischievous Cwynn, who enjoyed complaining about the
various injustices done to him in my absence (e.g., a bath) in a loud,
squawking voice (with occasional dooks here and there), and even Mithril,
who has a nipping vendetta against any female who dares come near her
beloved Martin (my husband), was a sweet sleepy silver puffball who tried to
eat everything from the blanket to the pillows to my fingers.
 
There's a reason why God put James Taylor and ferrets on earth --- to bring
a little bit of rainbow and heaven and home sweet home to troubled hearts as
well as happy ones.
 
                              Regards,
                              Anna G. Ralya
                              and the family.
[Posted in FML issue 1598]