Oh, my, this calls for a salute - Murphy! Sammy! Max! Front and center!! (Three ferrets - Murphy, a handsome Sable in the red serge of the RCMP; Sammy, a Dark-Eyed White with a yarmulke; and Max, another handsome Sable with his hind legs strapped into a wheelchair device - come running and rolling up to stand at attention.) Murphy: Present and accounted for, sir! Ah, this is the FML, is it? Do we have something to celebrate, sir? Paul: Yes, something special. It's Eppy. Donna's Eppy. (All three ferrets look stunned.) Max (whispering): Is he - did they - was he found, sir? After all this time? (Paul, grinning, nods.) Sammy (softly): I'd say that this qualifies as a miracle, sir. Paul: Yes, I think so, too. I think this calls for a celebration. Is the Cannon ready to fire? Voice: Yes, it is, sir! (Skippy, Skippy, Skippy, Skippy and Skippy, the crack team of Albino ferret mechanics, pushes a vintage Civil War cannon into view.) Skippy (smiling): We heard you mention Eppy's name, and we just *knew* it was good news! So, he we are with the cannon! And she's in excellent shape! Paul: I knew I could count on you guys. Okay, prepare her for firing! Ready... Aim... FIRE! *BOOOOOOMMM!!* *WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHH!!!* (The charge explodes in midair, showering the Ferret Mailing List with streamers, balloons, confetti, M&Ms in various flavors - including the hard-to-find Ferretone - and various other goodies. Two banners float down under parachutes: HURRAY FOR EPPY AND HIS LOVING MOMMY! and WELCOME HOME, WAYWARD WEASEL!! Murphy, Sammy, Skippy, Skippy, Skippy, Skippy, etc., dances in a ferret chorus line while Max plays a lively tune on his fiddle.) ****** Donna, I hope you forgive the silliness, but I had been following your posts about your missing boy, and my heart was aching for your loss. To hear the news of his return to his happy home is overwhelming. I just *had* to celebrate this way. No matter how silly this post is, the feelings that it expresses - of joy, relief, and wonder at the miracle of Eppy's return - are no less sincere. I am so happy for you and for him. And I will think of those humans who are missing their fuzzy babies. Eppy's story shows that there is hope. Paul [Posted in FML issue 3680]