A really cute, but at the same time scary, thing happened the other day. Sean came out of the bathroom asking where his "ferret thing that he washes in the shower with" is. He was beyond disturbed that it was missing. And he searched for it until I stopped him and told him he had to shower and get to bed. Before I tell you what happened next, let me give you a bit of background about this ferret "washy thing". You see, when I first began sharing the connection between Sean and ferrets on the FML, I was surprised to see a few people reach a very tangible hand out to my little boy and my family. One of those people was the quirky and eccentric, Georgia Wood, who helped to pioneer SOS. She sought out my friendship and wanted to send a gift to Sean for Rocky. We exchanged several emails before she decided on what to send him. Then several more getting the details just right. She examined everything from color to texture. She was surprisingly understanding and she was educated about the sensitivity of autistic children. And so soon after a box arrived for Sean and Rocky. In it was a dark reddish, thick, fleece sleep sack, a tiny Grinch stuffie, a very large teddy bear stuffie and finally but curiously ... a ferret "shower washy" thing. The shower "washy thingy" was actually a ferret with the netting around it. Those who knew or still know Georgia know her to be very resourceful and creative. She had taken one of those net shower "thingy's" (what are those called anyway?) that was actually a light brown monkey that didn't look much like a monkey, attached a dark mask on it's face, and wella. It was a picture perfect ferret shower "washer thingy". Sean, who well, was difficult to bath was thrilled. He used it a lot for a few years, and then ever since then, I've noticed it untouched (or so I thought) hanging in the shower collecting uck for the next few years. I finally took it out of the shower. And Sean noticed when he went to take his next shower. Scott and I were a bit surprised at his very odd reaction. It took him a while to get into that shower ... this guy that is so "normal" nowadays. I felt so, so bad. I couldn't remember what I had done with it. Knowing me, I had thrown it out. I felt horrible. But today, I am so, so relieved and very excited to find that the ferret shower washy thingy was on the floor behind the toilet. I was quick to pick it up, and revive it. I spent a while with it in the sink making it like new again and washing off the years of soap grime, etc. Now it sits all spiffy in the bathroom waiting for Sean. I'm watching the clock right now waiting for him to come home from school. I know a smile will come to my face about this memory ever time I look at it in my shower. [Posted in FML issue 5209]