Hi all- So many warm and touching e-mails and e-cards poured in to my inbox that I could not thank them all individually unless I took an entire day off from work and home and individually let each one know how much it meant to get that kind of support and caring. As I grieve for Nikita it has never been so clear to me how important it is to have a network, both large and small, of not only fellow pet lovers. but fellow FERRET lovers. I have a close-knit group around me of ferret friends...they are the ones who sent flowers and spent some time with me on the phone and stuck sympathy cards on my truck for me to find after work!! Then there is the larger, FML group and people I have met online, who offered not only sympathy but also messages of hope of one day seeing that lost furry face again. I have family members who are also "pet people". My dad has a dog that he loves dearly, and my aunt has four cats and two dogs that are her babies. Yet, somehow, they failed to take my loss very seriously. My dad was dismissive and my aunt didn't bother to reply to my e-mail. It was strange to me that other family members, who know what it is like to deeply love furry family members, would not understand how I felt about losing Nikita. And so, I am very grateful these past few days to have met and to know so many FERRET people. I've come to believe that with a few exceptions, only other ferret owners can really understand the loss of a ferret, even as opposed to other pets. I would enthusiastically advise new ferret owners to get involved with local ferret groups, ferret clubs, etc, to make some other ferret-owning friends in your area. It was of immeasurable comfort to me to have friends nearby who knew exactly what I was going through, and offered personal comfort and support. And knowing others who have gotten through the grief was also my "touchstone" for knowing that this initial pain would pass and that it would get better with time. Without the immediate support from both the FML and my "ferret friends", I would feel a lot worse today than I do. Getting flowers, getting cards, talking on the phone with another ferret-loving friend, and having several "good" crying spells actually helped a LOT. Tuesday night, I didn't think I would ever be able to say Nikita's name without bursting into tears. But today I am already able to talk about good times with her to others in my office. Everything people did helped. EVERYTHING. So...to anyone who's not plugged into a group or club, think about making some close-by contacts. It made a world of difference. Ferret groups, like all groups, can have their differences and those times when everyone is mad at each other, but when the time comes that someone is grieving, the support of those who know your pain firsthand is a saving grace. In other news, the haikus just keep coming!!! After Saturday's FML, I'll consider them all "submitted" and forward the whole bunch in one document to BIG. Hopefully, by early next week we'll know who the winners are... and you can tell me what colors you would like your wall hanging to be!! FML, you are a fantastic bunch. You're helping me get through this. Thank you. -Heather W. in Massachusetts Comforted by Dante, Dusty, Beanie, Boomer, and Rocky Waiting to give Nikki raisins and kisses at the Bridge [Posted in FML issue 3750]