Hi, all. Yesterday I did some 'check ups', today I have some Greetings to tell you about. I met a little guy named Max coming across the Bridge. His Business of Joey and Mittens was waiting for him with me. Max walked slowly and carefully across the worn wooden planks of the Bridge, as if he wasn't really sure that this was happening or not. (I see that pretty much every day, and who can blame them? It is a miraculous thing.) Max looked up and recognized Joey right away. The two yelled male bonding things, their tails frizzed up, and they bounced into one another, dooking and dancing up a storm. Mittens stayed back with me. Mittens knew Joey, but he didn't know Max. Once things had calmed down I made the proper introductions, and out came the wings. I could tell right away that this was going to be one of those really active groups that like to do things together. Well, cool! There is so much to do here! The four of us slipped on our wings and lifted off, one by one. It was a beautiful day for flying. The sun was a warm yellow ball in the clear blue sky, and there wasn't much wind. We flew over gently rippling fields of grass and white dasies. The fields gave way to low, rolling hills, and the first trees appeared. Soon a deep green forest spread out beneath us. It was hard to find a clear place big enough for all of us to land, but we managed. The forest was quiet and still. Great golden beams of light slanted down through the branches above us and painted the ground all around us. It was beautiful in every direction, and it smelled wonderful! Clean and fresh and alive. Max said "This is where I want to dig my burrow." So he did. We three helped him, dipping our claws into the soft loam and throwing it behind us as we dug, grunting and puffing with the effort. Last years dead leaves and stiff little pine needles flew! We dug deeper, and deeper. A main chamber, an entrance and an exit tunnel, as well as a ventilation shaft took form. We dug a separate room just for stashing shiny things in. Finally, it was done. All four of us lay in the cool darkness of the main chamber and admired our work. Our muscles were sore! But it was well worth it. It was a burrow of distinction, just what Max had envisioned all of his life! He told Joey and Mittens that they were welcome to come visit any time, and I am sure that they will. I can tell that those three are going to be thick as thieves! I met a little guy named Bruno coming across the Bridge the other day, and of all things, he was dragging a soft blue velvet rag behind him, one corner of it held firmly in his mouth. Bruno saw me and opened his mouth (dropping the rag) to say "Hi! I'm Bruno! Where is the pineapple?" Well, it is a pleasure to meet someone who makes the crossing with such complete self-assurance. No Recovery Hammie here, folks! I gave Bruno a brief verbal introduction to the Afterworld, then I told him to follow me to the Fruit Bar for the nearest pineapple, which he did with great good humor, the blue velvet rag dragging in the grass behind him all of the way. Traveling with Bruno is very, very quiet because of that rag. Conversation is, well, one-sided, at best. Finally, we came to the Fruit Bar and Bruno abandoned his rag alotgether in favor of the tray of chilled pineapple chunks, and the one of pineapple rings, and the one of crushed pineapple. He did not neglect one of those trays in favor of another, but attended to them all equally, until his belly was round and hard. Then of course it was time for nap. Bruno simply rolled himself up into the blue velvet rag like a burrito and fell deeply, deeply asleep. Having done serious damage to the tray of red spiced apple rings, I wasn't too far behind him...It was a *really* good nap. Bruno has style! I met another little guy coming across the Bridge. His name was Chester, Grandfather Chester, because he had lived a long, long life in the World of the Living. The whole Merry Mayhem Business came out to greet him, and as usual, there was a near riot. There are so maaaaany of them! And they really, really, know how to party. This time I sent SaraFerret out to the nearest Wild Black Footed Ferret camp as a diversion, just to keep them busy during Chester's Greeting. When they get together with the Merry Mayhem Gang, the fur flies! I had a nice, quiet talk with Chester, who said that he will wait patiently for his Mommy Rebecca. Many is the time that he would put his head on her foot, and she understood that this meant that he wanted her to pick him up. Not *every* hoomin is that clever! She was special. And some day, a long time from now, he is going to tell her so. Sandee [Posted in FML issue 4563]