I didn't arrive at the IP [Imperial Palace -- the Symposium Hotel. BIG] till 1:45 on Saturday and left at 10:30 on Sunday morning. I arrived at both airports early as suggested and both times it only took 20 minutes to get through security so I spent much of my time waiting for the planes. :-( Thank you Angie, Nancy, Stacey, and Tina for taking care of my group while I was away. I know it was only 37 hours but I'm sure it felt like much longer for all of you! (this was Angie's first time with my group too!) Thank you Frank for driving and picking me up at KCI and thank you Michael for meeting me at the airport in Vegas and Sandy for waiting with me at the taxi stand for my ride back. Thank you Sandy and Michael for 'baby sitting' me and sharing your time with me. Thank you Bobbi for sharing your room and for you and Judith joining us on our late evening seeing the nearby sites. I enjoyed the time I was at the symposium meeting friends, putting names with faces and seeing those I'd met before. Thank you BIG for the warm introduction and the audience for the warm welcome. Randy's speech when she presented the recognition plaque was heartwarming, but so many are more deserving than I that I felt a bit uncomfortable (I'm sure many noticed my squirming....). I'd had a thank you speech rehearsed but speaking to a human audience is much different than talking to a busyness of ferrets so I only uttered a simple thank you, but it came directly from my heart. Thank you to the presenters for sharing their information and to the audience for being there to learn and also to share their experiences and information. My only regret is that I wasn't able to spend more time with those I met and meet those I hadn't but I was blessed to be there. Thanks to all the wonderful people that made this trip possible. And thank you to the symposium committee that worked so hard to make this year's symposium possible and also to Randy and her committee for originating this wonderful event (in 2000). I hope I've not forgotten anyone, but if I have please forgive me. Now for the aftermath.... When I walked into our home, Rascal was on the futon peeking out from under the pillows. When she heard my voice she ssttrreeeetched out her neck towards me. She was very happy to see me. Pumkin and Flux and Otis and Bandy stayed hidden most of the time I was gone. Pumkin and Flux had the caretakers worried but they are fine now, bright and playful and very much back to normal, though they keep coming out to check on me. When Bandy saw me he stared, eyes wide, and if he was human his mouth would have dropped open. It was if he couldn't believe I was really home. Eros seems to think that laying on his back near me makes him irresistable (o.k. so it does), and Aries madly runs through the tubes then jumps on my leg. Many times I'm walking with this ferret attached to my shin.... All is well at home.... hugs to all. tle Troy Lynn Eckart Ferret Family Services http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/ Please sign up to support our charity http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=46&mid=58395 [Posted in FML issue 3685]