Lesseeeeeee.................I have had 5 ferrets over the past 15 years, 2
have gone West and 3 are still with me.  Bubba was my original, a blind,
albino boy who live to almost 11.  When Bubba was 2, I got Billy-Bob, a
silver.  Billy was deaf...I was on a streak..I had become a home for
handicapped ferts!
 
In the spring of 1990, I fell in love with a little light sable boy named
Garret, or that is what I think he said his name was, anyway..he came into
my life.  Garret was normal..well...as normal as a ferret can be!  Garret
is now almost 10.  He has had his right adrenal removed and I am afraid
has a left adrenal involvement now, but I am not going to subject him to
surgery at his age.  I may well try Lupron.
 
Then, about 3 years ago, I was asked if I wanted to try and save a little
panda boy who was misshipped to my friend's pet store.  His eyes weren't
open yet and it was obvious he was dying.  Of course I said yes and spent
the first 24 hours feeding him baby formula.  He made it..from a wee ferret
that fit into my hand with room for another normal kit as well, to a 5
pound bundle of energy that became known as Snorkle, for obvious reason..
he snorkeled through everything.  Oh yeah..he kisses funny too.  No prissy
tongue licks as kisses for him..oh no, he is a macho fert...he gives my
nose a good whack with his tongue.  If I tell him that I want a BIG KISS,
he will take my whole nose in his jaw and give a slight squeeze..he does
know the difference!
 
A month after Snorkle came into my life, Billy-Bob left me.  I had 10 1/2
wonderful years with him.  There was a reason Snork made his entrance when
he did.
 
Then, 2 years ago this coming June, I got my first female, a little dark
sable, a 2 pound bundle of muscle and attitude from New Zealand.  Her name
is Tuzigoot, named after a Sinaqua Indian word meaning, farms without
water.  Tuzigoot is, in my opinion, a little girl ferret's name, so she got
stuck with it.  For all of you who are having problems integrating a new
ferret into your residence business, it took 6 months before Tuzi became a
part of my ferret family.  Even today, she sleeps alone, wants nothing to
do with the boys when she sleeps.  Tuzi, BTW, is a whole female, and she
will poof in excitement...well...not poof exactly, she 'leaks', however,
a rose, by any other name, is still a rose...so when she 'leaks', I
leave...QUICKLY!
 
I found out about the FML in late 1996 (I think it was) from Sam Young in
an IRC chat room we used to have, pre-ICQ.  (Sam, BTW, is the breeder that
sent me Tuzi)  Almost all of the old IRC chat bunch are still FML members.
 
I live with my wife and one remaining sibling with 10 snakes, 2000 mice,
and my 3 bosses in the hills overlooking Reno, Nevada.  I get extremely
irritated when the FML doesn't hit my mailbox by 2350 hours each evening.
(Just kidding Bill!)
 
I have seen many changes in the FML..mostly contributors.  Some I really
miss...Tater and Odie come to mind.  I am not into the ferret-speak that
some try to use...Too hard to finger out, but some contributors were very
good at it, Michael Schieman, Paw-Paw to Tater and Odie, and Skeeter come
to mind.  For 12 years, I was winging it on raising my ferrets...Reno had
no real good info on the critters so when I found out about the FML and
was introduced to Pam Greene's (SP??) wonderful ferret database and the
contributions of very ferret knowledgeable vets, I was in 7th heaven.  What
a resource.  I like to think that I have made a lot of friends here and an
enemy or two (Hence my signature sign off, The Rude One) I am proud to be a
member of the FML community.  Bill, YOU made that happen, by being a
**very** good moderator.  THANK YOU.
 
For our ferrets
 
MC, The Rude One
(With Garret, Snorkle, and Tuzigoot.  In spirit, Bubba and Billy-Bob)
[Posted in FML issue 2884]