Dear Krista,
 
I tried e-mailing you privately but the message bounced, so I'll try
here.  I'm so sad to hear about your losing Arthur.  Those little guys
really do worm their way into our hearts, don't they?  I know how much
you are hurting right now.  We lost our second ferret Epsie when he was
four years old.  He was frisky and in the prime of his life, but died
suddenly from a bug bite or small puncture wound that became infected.
I grieved for him for a long time, and even five years later I still
miss him.
 
What has helped my husband and me with Epsie and the four ferrets we have
lost since then is simply remembering as many little details as we can
and freely bringing them up in everyday conversation.  They each had such
distinctive little personalities, and by continuing to talk about them it
feels like they are still with us.  My suggestion to you would be to
write down as much as you can right now about the cute and silly little
things that Fonzi did.  That way you will never lose those memories and
he will always be a part of your life.
 
Hugs to you and and your other fuzzy ones.  Our thoughts are with you.
 
Julie and Ginger, Chester, and Sned
[Posted in FML issue 4871]