We've lost two of the gentlest, sweetest beings we have ever known. Max was truely a rescue ferret. He was found in the middle of the street by my boss, who hated ferrets. But when she called me, she said she wasn't even sure he was a ferret because he didn't look like one. When she brought him to us, I understood why. He was a beautiful, beautiful champagne colored ferret. The absolute most luscious, yummy cream/beige color I've ever seen. We teased him that he matched our couch perfectly. Max was scared witless when he came. He clung like a baby monkey and refused to let go. He was terrified of other ferrets and screamed until we picked him up when another came to sniff him. Max was also the absolute goofiest, ungraceful little snot I've ever met. He'd trip himself. You should have seen him run! The episode of `Friends' where Rachel and Phoebe go running in the park and Phoebe flails around as she runs is EXACTLY what Max was like. You had to run for cover when Max ate Chicken Gravy because he flicked it *everywhere*. Through love, much worship and even more spoiling, Max became a great little guy. He merged with Maya and Shelby and delighted in cramming himself into Shelby's hammock, despite Shelby's protest. He wasn't as thrilled when big `ol macho Otto wanted to lay on him. I went away for a weekend, and when I came home, Max was the only one awake. He took one look at me and HURLED himself at me, bouncing, hopping, clucking, chirping, squeaking. When I picked him up, he gave me big sloppy kisses. I cried. I've never felt such pure, unfiltered love from anyone or anything in my life. He was my baby. He healed part of my very broken heart when we lost Bailey. He was found in the street six weeks after her death. I believe we were meant to have him. Max's favorite game was to chase you around. You ran, he chased. He loved to sleep in an old, well worn soft pink blanket. He would eat so much Chicken Gravy his little belly would bulge. He was the warmest ferret we had. Heat just radiated off of him. He was tickilish under his armpits. I was honored to have been a part of his life and was honored that he loved me. I wish I could have been with him at the end. His daddy and surrogate mommy were, and he went peacefully. A gift like Max makes me think there's something smarter than us in the world. He was gentle, sweet, funny. He was so beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful. Max left us on April 24, 2002. Julie Email 1: [log in to unmask] Email 2: [log in to unmask] MSN: [log in to unmask] Board: The Diesel Asylum Text pager: [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 3772]