We just got back last (Tues.) night.  Just in time, too -- Steve got a call
today saying that the article with him will be "prominently displayed" in
tomorrow's (Thursday's) New York Times.  We'll be so disappointed if this is
someone's practical joke.  (It's basically a "right tool for the chore" type
of thing we think.  Steve lives many hours every day on many computers and
servers, and this month marks his 21st year on a net (Though they had Usenet
and others back then rather than the Internet as it is today.), but
sometimes other and older tools just work better for certain tasks.)
 
OBERLIN IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  About the only things they need are:
slightly better prices at the Inn, and a ferret specialist vet.  Otherwise,
I'd like to move it here!
 
Okay, let's start with the party.  Linda is marvelously sweet and practical,
and she managed to fit maybe twenty people and over a dozen ferrets in
without raising even one drop of nervous sweat, though Joy had to dash away
for a short while when a nail broke (Teasing you, Joy!).  Folks came from
Ohio, PA, and Michigan (Hi!).  We had mirthful ferret song singing which
Barb began with some of her's, and then Linda and Joy continued with a duet,
and which even had one song in which we all participated in the chorus.
There was lots of food, and folks read ferret stories.  The best parts for
us though were the conversations we all had!  For people who pretty much
hadn't spoken a lot together before except in letters we sure gabbed like
crazy and not a person went away without learning something!!!!!!  It was
like we all old cronies, just as comfortable as can be.  During it all
ferrets kept climbing us, trying to steal someone's nylons (grin), sleeping
in our shirts, frenching (Hey, Belle!), laughing at us, etc!!!  We left our
ferret photos at the Inn (which is only about a mile and a quarter away, but
we couldn't bear to leave all those wonderful people!  At least Linda and
Laurie got to see them earlier.  Did you know that Laurie's hubby can get
anyone with four legs to eat?  Oh, and Joy called us all to our food with a
squeaky toy.  Joy, BTW, was remarkably mentally mature and perfectly
comfortable with adults, and obvious has the sort of close relationship
with her parents all teens should have.  Linda and Richard have wonderful
nurturing ability -- you should see them with daughter and ferrets.  These
are gentle folks!
 
We got to finally meet Cocoa Puffs whom we've known long distance for quite
some time now.  Cocoa has multiple medical problems which render surgery too
dangerous for anything but a possible last resort try, but she is SO happy.
It was like she'd known us forever, too.  I just wrapped my shirt around her
(Sorry about any exposed belly -- twenty years ago that looked good on me,
but I'm not that young anymore), and she cuddled in.  If I stopped talking
to her or rubbing her ears she'd bump me for more till she finally dropped
off for a happy snooze.  Then when she woke up having to go to the bathroom
she was very polite about it -- let me know she was awake and then rolled up
and sniffed her bottom and looked at me.  Isn't she a mannerly lady?  I
just can't believe how marvelous maintained her skin is for an almost
totally bald little girl.  She isn't at all dry or pimpled like will usually
happen -- feels like warm glove leather instead.  Bev DEFINITELY needs to
write a skin care post; I've NEVER found skin so well maintained in this
combination.  I did NOT want to let go of her.  (If she gets to the point
where surgery should be risked despite her complications I wonder if she
might come here to our specialist?)
 
Then Bev plopped Wally in our arms and we fell in love AGAIN!!!  This was
REALLY hard, because we both wanted to bring both Wally and Cocoa home BIG
TIME, but we've already got sweet 'Chopper with cardiomyopathy, and Wally
has an early cardiomyopathy diagnosis.  He's young, but he was starved
before Bev got him and the cause is thought to be taurine deprivation and
starvation.  Now he is a FAT little tubby, who LOVES to rest on his back and
share kisses and hugs.  He also has the MOST AMAZING type of talking!!!
Mostly it's sort of a Mmmmmmmmmrrufffffffhhhhhh and other nuzzly noises,
which he shares and replies to.  Anyone who recalls our Hale years ago will
know that he holds conversations like she did.  He REALLY liked to stick his
head in Steve's glass and hear himself talk!  Steve and I know that we
should NOT have him in our family because we are stretched thin in the
individual attention department, and we KNOW how hard it is and how very,
very heart breaking to have them dying, but we both almost caved so I'm not
completely sure we won't be having him in our arms again.  He fell asleep in
my arms, too, BTW.
 
All in all, it was a WONDEFUL time!!!!!  Anyone who missed it REALLY lost
out.
 
Oh, Oberlin ITSELF was amazing, too.  It's gorgeous -- FULL of gardens and
interesting tree species, recitals each night (Niki ACED her's!  She found
out some more good news a few days later, too.), marvelous art museums,
craft shops, and we recommend the Mandarin, the soup and noodle shop next
to the Mandarin, and the Fox Grape, and there are sidewalks or walkable
shoulders everywhere so Steve and I enjoyed romantic strolls practically
every day.  Plus, it was productive!
 
Sukie
 
a P.S.
One more thing about the party at Linda's: it was maybe 60:40 women to men,
so it wasn't the female domain which a few (who have never attended any FML
parties from what I heard) have accused such gatherings of being.  No one
felt constrained.  There wasn't any of that old garbage of women being
expected to kow-tow, or cower, or be mum.  Nor were men expected to sit back
and not take part.  Instead, it was like the anniversary: each person valued
for experience, gentleness, kindness, and helpfulness.  Gads, I well recall
when MOST men and women were too insecure to enjoy such a situation, (Still
see this regularly with our parents' crowds.), but I have to say that the
folks there were marvelous and we all just felt comfy, and respected, and
valued.  It was a wonderful group of people.
[3 posts combined. BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2272]