I tend to lurk most of the time, but I just lost my baby, Heinz to liver cancer. He was a sweet little boy, I got him when he was just a babe. He was quite a sight, he had panda markings, badger markings, silver-mit feet, and a black tail with a white tip. And the cutest little speckled belly you ever saw! The first time I saw him, he was belly up, sound alseep in the Petland here in Lansing. I HAD to hold him. They were used to this, they know me so well there! I have gone there lots of times and hold and play with the ferrets, I know they don't have a lot of time to do this themselves, and they have told me they really appreciate my coming in. Well, I went back every week for a month. He was there, each time, even though other babies had come and gone.....no one took him. After the fourth week, I knew he was meant to be mine. Since he was so colorful, we named him Heinz. He had been ordered with these markings by someone who decided he wasn't right. I am SO glad she didn't want him. After a year, he did a serious about face, he turned almost totally white with a little bit of black ticking, and a black tail tip. I don't know what that person who ordered him would have done with him if he changed on them. I figure he was meant to be with me, because I loved his personality, not his looks. He had the sweetest personality, very gentle and loving, and we teased him about being a "Ferret of little brain". He had eyes shaped like the Precious Moments figures. And he was a klutz, he was forEVER falling off the end of the bed when we played.....and I'd catch him whenever I could, but he fell off more times than I can count. I know he had a good life with me, I spoiled him ROTTEN! And he lived 7 1/2 years, which is the longest I've had a ferret, except for his cage mate, Pita, she is 8 years old and still kicking...... A friend sent me a WAV of a Barry manilow song called "You're There". It was such a beautiful song, and very appropriate, try to find a WAV of it if you can.....and pass it on to someone else who has lost a little love. Thanks for letting me talk. I will miss him tonz, and I know Pita misses him. But I know he was a happy fuzzie and was loved by myself and everyone else who met him. Give all your babies hugs and kisses, and a treat or two, for Pita and me, ok? Take care De [Posted in FML issue 4699]