It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write this tribute-words that cannot even begin to express the man or the feelings of all of us who have known him. Many of you here on the FML know of my family's association with Harvey & Helga Clark, and you all know the high esteem these folks are held by us. If you were at Ferrets 2000 in Toronto, and you heard Bob Church speak of being in a room full of adults and ferrets, and watching all those adults turn into children, he was speaking of the Clark's room and their ferrets. What a gathering there! Then later the Clarks, Betty and James, Sara and I sat in the Clarks room, swapping ferret stories and sharing wine. How fun, how wonderful to know these people. We had the honor of meeting the Clarks about 4 or 5 years ago. Helga had a little ferret she'd rescued, was looking for a home for her, and we answered. Harvey and Helga drove halfway from Belleville, Illinois, and Larry, Sara and I met them halfway. We must have sat in that diner for 3 hours, talking, enjoying each other's company. And it was like meeting old friends that you hadn't seen for a while. To state the rest is history is to put it mildly. We've visited each other's house, we've talked on the phones, and if not for the Clark's I wouldn't know as much about ferrets as I do. One of my fondest memories of Harvey is him sitting in our living room, our big black and white cat, Domino, in his lap, rubbing all over him. Helga was telling us that one of their sons had written a paper in school about how fantastic his dad was, because he was highly allergic to cats and still allowed him to have a cat. I looked over, there's Harvey with tears pouring down his face because of his allergy, loving this cat. I asked him if he wanted me to get Domino off him, he smiled and said no, that he loved it. How does one take the measure of man like this? I don't know, but what I know is when they made this man they broke a mold. He was a great husband and father, and a marvelous friend. I don't think I ever heard him speak a bad word against anyone, but if he did, I'm sure they deserved. Was he perfect, of course not. There was only one perfect person, and they hung Him on a cross. But I can tell you that he was fun to be around, so interesting, so informative, and such a blast. Another fond memory was when our daughter, Sara, and I were at the Clarks and Harvey kept fixing Sara fuzzy navels. She was feeling no pain and he was laughing his head off. When we found Harvey was ill we were devastated. I know how hard this has all been on Helga, and how she and Harvey refused to give in to this. Why do the great and kind people get struck down by disease? Life isn't fair, and this sucks. My niece had AML, and I sought her advice on what to tell Harvey and Helga, and my family has tried to be there for them, albeit long distance. I cannot tell you the devastation we feel at this moment, to know that Harvey has left us all. I have just talked to Helga, and Harvey left us around 3:00pm today, March 27, 2003. If one takes the measure of a man by his family and friends, this man was so rich. Harvey, I know you're now out of pain, that you're smiling and waving at us. And I know that when you reached Heaven you went immediately to the Rainbow Bridge and couldn't be seen by the animals who gathered around you, and who have crossed into Heaven with you. I'm sure that St. Francis was there to greet you, as well as a host of angels, and Christ Himself. Goodbye, our dear friend. You leave a giant hole in the lives of all who knew you, more of a hole in your family's life than all of us combined. But we know that you will never suffer again, and when all our times come, we know we'll see you again. Godspeed, my dear friend. If any of you would like to give Helga your condolences, please contact me, or if you would like to give a donation in Harvey's name to the American Cancer Society, I think that would be truly appreciated, and I would be more than happy to give you the information you might need. Please keep Helga and her sons in your thoughts and prayers, for I know how much they are hurting at this time. Rebecca & the Crew of Merry Mayhem "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and = taste good with ketchup" "Support bacteria, it's the only culture some people have" [Posted in FML issue 4100]