Greetings Ferret Community! It feels so wonderful to finally be receiving the FML again. I've missed it so much! It's great not to be the only ferret person in the crowd. Don't get me wrong, most folks I know are very patient with my passion for the furry kids, they just don't get it!!! Here are a few of the comments/questions I get over and over again: - You have HOW MANY ferrets now? (I only have four, that's a very modest number, thank you very much). - Where do you keep getting all your ferrets? (They just come to me from families who can't/don't want to keep them any longer. I have never purchased a fert or even gone looking for one. I guess whenever the right ferret needs me, it senses my ferret radar and finds its way home). - Oh, I used to have a ferret, too, but ___________ (fill in the blank with your choice A. it smelled bad B. it bit C. it pooped on the floor D. My kid always forgot to feed it). I usually just nod politely at this one. I don't believe that ignorance makes someone a bad person, but... well, what can I say to a comment like that? My favorite response to ferrets, and the one that seems to come from most people, is interested curiousity. Almost everybody wants to hold 'em, pet 'em, ask questions, watch 'em play. A few people aren't comfortable with them. That's okay. I used to think ferrets were unpleasant little critters, too, before I met one. Fortunately, all of my fuzzies are so sweet and funny, they make excellent good-will embassadors for the weasel world. Which is nice. But. It's also nice to be here among you all and NOT be the weird one (okay, maybe I am still weird, but at least it's not because I have ferrets). So, while I'm thinking about it, and feeling so very grateful, I'd like to say a few "thanks"! Thank you, BIG, for all the work you do on this thing! And an especially big THANK YOU to all of you out there running ferret shelters and caring for fuzzbutts in need. I don't know how you get the energy to do it. I know that just taking care of four is my energy and financial limit (and they all came to me "free" Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha)! Anyway, sometimes I feel like a 'ferret magnet', but you guys are the real power players. I hope you know how much your love and hard work are appreciated. I realize that most of you are probably reading this wondering, "Who is the person? I never heard of her?" Well, I would be be very surprised if many folks (anybody???) had any idea who I was just. I'm just a fellow FMLer who has been away for a while. I feel like I've come home. I'd also like to add a quick note on another subject. The other day someone wrote about a biting ferret. She was young and just playing too hard. I've never had to care for a mean or frightened biter, but for rough players, I do what ferrets do to each other when playing too hard. I scream. It might sound kind of silly, but even with little nips I give a mighty squeal. None of them bit for long at all, and now they all give kisses instead. Hope this helps. Dooks to all, Jodie (hooman), Weasel, Big Boy, Ruby Belle, and Fancy [Posted in FML issue 3508]