Wow, I didn't expect any visitors on Christmas. I know it's just so hard on some hoomins who celebrate to say goodbye on what's supposed to be one of the happiest days for them. But a big, darkc handsome, sable guy appeared at the end of the bridge. As he walked slowly across you could see each color of each Christmas light reflecting onto his dark fur. He has an usually handsome name ... Jubal. The young fella looked a little confused and stared at his dark glistening wings. I grabbed and hugged him because he looked so hugable! I welcomed him and wrapped my wing around him to explain to him where he was. As I explained, he nodded and said that he somehow though that is where he was going as he slipped away from his mom and dad San and Sandy and from his friend Early. He confided that he really felt ill for a very long time. Really ill. I told him not to feel guilty that he feels whole now because that is what his parents and Early would want. So after our serious conversation, we went off to fill up at the snack bar for some energy. You know, ferret treats are not the only option here. People snacks, bugs, goodness everything imaginable is safe here. He decided to try some ginger ale but the bubbles made him jump back, shake his head, and spray the soda off his whiskers onto us all. He made a sorry face, but we all giggled. Some ferrets were licking up others to help clean up. That was enough experimenting for him He was mystified that the snow wasn't too much to stay in for his paws and that it looked just like the clouds here. He can play in the snow as much as he wants, but if he gets a chill all he has to do is catch a breeze and fly up to a cuddly cloud to warm up in. So we did, we rolled and played in the snow with dozens of other ferrets. Then we soared up to the clouds to find several more buried and warming up in the cloud. Just like meerkats popping out of their holes, one ferret after another popped their heads up with pieces of cloud dangling off their ears and tops of their heads. What a crack up! Jubal had a way of attracting friends. But he still wanted to know exactly where the reflecting pool was, and how to listen to the clouds to hear his family on earth. I sent him to take lessons to learn how to visit his family in their dreams and with tickles on the feet and such. He said even though he knows his mom and dad will take care of Early, he wants to be close to him until he comes here. He said his family was going to be especially hurt because it was Christmas. So off he went. Passed the trees with ornaments and all sorts of goodies, determined to take care of business first! Ah. Love. [Posted in FML issue 5107]