Thank you, Gis, so sharing your life with us for five years.  You showed us
that you were the one and only "baddest thing on feet" when you rolled and
twisted on the floor as Scott and I would say to you "yes, you're bad,
you're the baddest thing on feet.  You had such a zest for life and you
proved it every day, even during the last few in which you were too tired to
barely move.  You never just walked through the house, you moved at a swift
trot, sometimes it seemed that your body was somewhat out of alignment as
your back-end would be further to the right or left than your front.  It was
always comical, when you and I would go out of our bedroom and you would see
the other fur-kids.  You always began to grumble, almost like you were
asking me "why do we have to have these guys around here?  Aren't I enough,
after a ll they just run around the house getting their young-un stink all
over everything!".
 
Thank you, Gis, for being so free with your ferret kisses.  Not a day went
by that you did not give Scott or I kisses.  You were fond of kissing
Scott's ears and my throat.  Your whiskers, my, how they always tickled.
Your kisses changed somewhat from the time we brought you home until
yesterday.  Your seven week old baby kisses were more like little nips with
a few licks from your tongue.  Then they became very energetic licks and
toward the end, your kisses bcame slower, almost tired.
 
Thank you, Gis, for being an ambassador for ferrets.  You never met a human
you didn't like and all the humans that met you fell in love.  Everyone that
met you always commented on what a real sweet-heart you were.  Everyone that
met you always asked about you if you weren't with us.  On the very first
day that I got you, you captured the heart of a two-year old and you have
been capturing hearts ever since.  You captured mine in the span of seconds.
 
Thank you, Gis, for being a friend.  You seemed to always know when Scott or
I were troubled and would come to us offering what comfort you had to give.
You would always sleep in the bed with me when Scott was out of town on
business and then would be my alarm clock when it was time to get up.  In a
conversation that Scott and I once had, the jist of which being, that should
we ever break up, he would take you, my comment was "no way".  We would have
ended up in a court battle to settle who gained custody of you.
 
Thank you, Gis, for being such a little manipulator.  You knew exactly how
to manipulate Scott or me into giving you cream from the refrigerator.  You
manipulated us easily into catering to all your needs and wants.  Yet, I can
only smile and wish that you were here for me to be conned once again by
your little acts.
 
Thank you, Gis, for being you.
 
Thank you, Lord, for allowing Scott and I the opportunity to be the
care-takers of this little angel.  You took him from us last November then
gave him back for a few more months.  As I was coming home from work,
Thursday, an "Alabama" song came over the radio just as I entered my
driveway.  As I listened to the words, immediately Gismo came to mind and I
feel that this little fur-child was truely "an angel among us".
 
We love you Gismo
 
Mommy-Margaret Ann and Daddy-Scott
 
(Gismo was the victim of insulinoma and adrenal disease.  He had surgery
for insulinoma January '96 and surgery for adrenals  in November '96.)
[Posted in FML issue 2008]