Dee wrote: >Regarding the post from Mary at Modern Ferret, what did it have to do with >ferrets? I am sorry if Eric is having medical problems, but why post >about it on this list? There are two reasons. When this list was first being designed (Is it 12 or 13 years ago now, Bill? I'd guess 13 for the initial discussions on the topic of formation but it's been a while.) those of us who were in on the initial content choices decided that personal matters within reason could be on the list since we had all become friends. In fact, for a while early on we had a lot of posts that concentrated on helping one member, Nancy, and her family after her sister, Peggy, was in an accident and became quadriplegic. It is by that definition within FML guidelines. The second reason is that many FML members get Modern Ferret so it is important for them to know what is causing delays. BTW, MF as an abbreviation is traditionally used for Marshall Farms not for Modern Ferret, though that appears now and then and tends to cause some confusion. By two aspects it fits for these very good people who truly love ferrets and care about ferret people. Bill wrote: >And for another, I can't think of too many people who contribute more to >the ferret community -- any news about Modern Ferret is ferret-related >practically automatically. Boy, is that ever true. Before we had so many problems with sick older relatives and such I used to put in 30 to 40 "free time" hours per week helping others in the ferret community and through them helping their ferrets, but Mary and Eric always did even more in their "spare" time for no reason except to assist others . They have consistently given so very much to everyone. Had one with an anal sac infection that looked like that years ago. She turned out to also have more anal sacs than the norm by a wide margin once they went in. Were told that she had been "descented" earlier, but when they went in they found more anal sacs still there than she should have had in the first place. That was Haleakala, a retired breeder who was retired by her household after a mounting male put a canine through one of her eyes. Halee OWNED my belly button -- no exaggeration. If you had seen it you'd know it. It was HER'S! Someone with four little feet and masked face once typed the closely spaced letter combo" frrrrt" on our keyboard. Spooky, huh? BTW, look how close "e" is to the others. When do you think someone's ferret will get even close to the word "ferret"? That would be so neat, wouldn't it? Maybe it's happened already and the person stayed mum thinking no one would believe it. [Posted in FML issue 3147]