Hi, all. I met a little girl the other day. I shouldn't say little, she earned the title "Grandmother" by being nearly seven years old! Her name is Grandmother Beanie. Beanie came across the Bridge very easily, no need for a recovery hammock, here! Her walk was very calm and determined. Her nose was moist, and her whiskers shone around her face. Her coat was a warm cinnamon. I had a talk with her, and with her Brother Kodo, who waited several years to see his sister again. Beanie is really very well spoken for a ferret. Many of us speak mostly in a language of touches and smells, but not Beanie. Kodo is quite articulate as well. They had lovely things to say about their Mommie, Fran. They had some funny stories to tell about her as well. It was so much fun to make her bend over with a paper towel and pick up poops! Some day, a long time from now, they will see her again. Beanie and Kodo and I strapped on our wings and flew to the Field of Rasin Vines. It's sort of like a field of grape vines growing on low to the ground wooden arbors, only the grapes are all the sweetest, most moist rasins. You can nibble them directly from the vine, right out in the sunshine! Nothing, but nothing is as good as sun-warmed rasins! We climbed the vines, or stood on our back feet and nibbled until we were satisfied. When our bellies were round, we walked a short distance to a fast moving, cold stream and drank our fill. It was such a good day! Beanie is going to hang her hammie with Kodo, at least until she gets her bearings. Kodo sleeps in a little cave dug into the fragrant dirt of the cliff across from that stream. Many swallows and mud-daubing birds make that cliff their home as well. Kodo has lined his little cave with a soft layer of milkweed puffs that he has collected from the nearby fields. Sometimes, when the wind blows strong, the puffs blow from the cave and dance in the wind! I met a little girl named Snowie, too. I was a little worried about her, because she had no Brothers or Sisters in Fur here on this side of the Bridge. In many cases like this, I like to introduce the new arrival to a clan of wild Black-Footed ferrets. They can certainly be wild, staying up and partying and wardancing all night, but they have a tremendous sense of family, and are always happy to embrace a singleton, and make him or her at home with them. Snowie told me that she had been dreaming of the Bridge for some time, she was very excited to begin her new life here in the Afterworld, although she felt very badly about her Mommy. Her Mommy Carrie was so sad, so scared to lose her! Snowie said that her passing was really very gentle. She passed in her sleep. She said that on her last night, her Mommy wrapped her in a warm towel, and rocked her in her strong, but gentle arms. Snowie said that it was a kindness that she would never forget. Some day, a long time from now, Snowie will thank her Mommie personally. Well, I introduced Snowie to one of my favourite groups of wild Black-Footed ferrets. Twee, Zaa, Kaalo, Cloud, and Tik. These folks just hate to be alone. Some think that they are stuck up because they always form groups amongst themselves. Really, it's just that they can't bear to be alone. They promised me that they would take Snowie to their camp and throw a big welcoming party with drums and a dance for her. She will make other friends in time, but once you have been adopted by the wilds, you are always welcome, and you need never be alone. They were very impressed with Snowie's fur, they kept stroking her sides and rubbing up against her. As you might imagine, there aren't many albino Black-Footed ferrets! I know that Snowie will be in good paws with them! Back to work! Sandee [Posted in FML issue 4365]