A note from Muldoone: Hi folks, dis be Mr. Muldoone, officialist Wainbow Bwidge Gweeter. SaraFewet and I bees sworry dat gweetings be wate. Tings not happens xactly wight on earff but Sara and I dooes da bestest dat we can gettin gweetings catchies upt. My hooman-bean not picked a gud time to get sick; I say send her to da vet for a shot in da butt wike I gots a few times but she no go to da vet for a shot. So on Mudder's Daze and my hooman-bean not be home, she be gone avisitin familee, I sneaks back home to dooes da gweetings on da hooman's combuter. I finds da 'Tone bottle too. Earff 'Tone tasties better dan Wainbow Bwidge 'Tone, maybe accause I can smellies my mom's smell on it. **Gots to member to get all da 'Tone slurpied off da ting wiff da wetters you makes da words wiff** Early morning at the Rainbow Bridge and Muldoone was already up and about, he was on his way to greet a group of ferrets due to arrive at the Bridge. Thinking about the task ahead of him as he was hurring along, so many ferrets to greet at one time, Mully was concerned he would mess up or forget someone, so much for a little ferret to remember and do just exactly right. Arriving at the Bridge, Muldoone found Nanna, SodaFerret, and the rest of the welcoming crew, plus this morning there were even more ferrets on hand to help out. "Mornin Nanna" Mully told his boss while casting an eye to the other ferrets. "Good morning Muldoone, we have a few extras on hand this morning to help out with the group we have coming" Nanna told him. A tiny sable with the bluest eyes Mully had ever seen was introduced to him as Silky. A large male with the creamiest white fur was introduced as Snowy. Popping out from behind a bush was none other than Clancy as he bounded over to Muldoone to say hi. "Nanna, does we weally needs Quancy?" Mully asked his boss. "Muldoone, as I was asking for volunteers for Bridge Duty this morning Clancy was kind enough to offer his services so you be nice to him" Nanna stated as she shot Mully as glare-stare. "We have several new arrivals coming this monring Muldoone and normally they don't arrive in groups but this is an unusual circumstance so that is the reason for the extra help with the greetings" Nanna finished explaining. "Let us form our circle , it is time" Nanna told the little ferret gathering. The lights over the Bridge began to dance and swirl; colors more beautiful than ever seen on earth now painted the sky. The colors blended and then changed again; shades of pink gave way to peach and yellows then changed to a soft green that blended into a delicate blue that gave itself over to shades of lavender. A fine soft fairy dusting began to swirl all around Muldoone, Nanna, and the others. Muldoone, Nanna, Bailey, Freckles, Dude, Libby, Silky, Snowy, and Clancy all joined paws forming a circle of love. The group of ferrets each closed their eyes and concentrated on the group of ferrets making their way to the Bridge. In the hearts of the group of ferrets, they were sending their love for those leaving earth, helping to light the way for the ones to come but also they were sending prayers of love for the human ferret moms and dads who were dealing with broken hearts at the loss of a little fuzzy friend. In the center of the circle stood SodaFerret, tall and handsome as hebegan to sing the song of love to the group of ferrets making their way to the Bridge. His voice was deep and rich, every note sang perfectly, every word wrapped in love for the ferret group making their way. The Ferret Promise Song now filled the air with its bittersweet refrain. The melody of love told the story of hope and promise and also of sorrow and loss all tied together in the cycle of life. The song explained pain fading away, of limbs being made strong again, and eyes once morebright, it told of the sorrow of passing and the joy waiting in the Promise. As Soda sang the sad sweet song, he also sang a song of love for the humans whose hearts had been broke by the passing of each ferret. Soda offered his love to the humans who were hurting; tears falling inside the broken hearts. The words of love reached the each of the ferrets letting them know it was okay to let go and come to the Bridge. The melody now filled the heart of Lector, Bandit, Punky, Kira, Autum, and Oscar. Each ferret no longer feared letting go. Thoughts were centered on the human who theycared for and would miss. A whispered prayer was sent to the humans, "Iloves you mommy but it be time for me to goes, I pwomise to waits for you. Tanks for loving me, tanks for showing me what it be to be loved afore my time be over." The flash of light subsided and Mully along with the rest of the group could hear the unmistakable sound of ferrety feets making their way across the time-worn planks of the Rainbow Bridge, only this time it was many feets that could be heard. The MoonBeam Molly had just delivered a total of six new ferrets whose time on earth had been cut short. The newcomers began making their way across the Bridge, each ferret held the paw of another ferret. As they gazed at the gathering at the other end of the Rainbow Bridge, they saw a group of ferrets wearing soft gentle smiles. Standing in the middle of the group they saw a large silver and white ferret wearing a bright yellow apron. They also saw a very funny looking ferret wearing a baseball cap with the wildest looking fur sticking out from under it going in all directions and standing off a bit were a small group of ferrets, all with loving smiles on their furry little faces. Nanna was first to step out from the group to introduce herself. "Welcome to the Rainbow Bridge wee-ones" she told the newcomers. "This will be the beginning of a new journey for each of you and here you will remian until your human passes and you will be retunited with them" Nanna explained. "There is nothing to be afraid of" Nanna told the new arrivals, "you are home." For a long time the little group of new comers were silent, their eyes big and round drinking in all the sights of their new surroundings. "How are you all feeling?" Nanna asked the group, do you have any questions?" she asked. "I feels gud, I not hurts, I feels wike I feels when I bees a kit" Oscar explained. "Me too" Punky stated with a toothy grin. "And me" Kira replied. "Us too" Lector, Bandit, and Autum replied in unison. "Wee-ones that is the gift of the Creator, when we arrive here, we are made young again and our health has been restored, no more aches and pains, all our limbs work, our bodies are made young and healthy once more" Nanna explained to the little group. "What kinds of tings you wakes to do guys?" Mully asked the group of ferrets. "We gots all kinds of fun stuff here, we gots da Otter Swede, Wesley-Mania, da Fruit Bar, da Chicken Gravy Pond, 'Tone Steams, da Soc Steal Course, Dirt Mountain and wots more" Muldoone chattered on and on. Oscar stood for a long time saying nothing, he had a tear to sneak out and slide down his little furry cheek. "Mz Nanna" he asked, is dere any hoomans here dat might wike to pets a fewet?" Gently gathering all the new arrivals to her, Nanna began to explain to them. "Wee-ones there are angels running around all over the place here and they like nothing better than to sit and hold a wonderful little ferret just like yourselves. When you are out and about, look at the trees we have growing everywhere here and look for a small twinkley button, you will find it on the tree near the ground. Push the button with your nose or your paw, wait a bit and then a beautiful angel will come and sit and hold you for as long as you would like." "Weally Mz Nanna?" Autum asked. "Dere be any angels dat wook and smells wike my hoomans?" Gathering the tiny little female ferret Autum to her, Nanna chuckled, "Autum, when you are being held by the angel, look at the picture you have of your mom, you know the one you carry deep in your heart, close your eyes tight and think of your human, and it will be just like she is holding you" Nanna assured the little girl ferret. "Dat would be the bestust" Punky exclaimed. "I hads a gud mom and I misses her." Next to step forward and introduce himself was Soda. "Hello, my name be SodaFewet. Affer you settles in I shows you how to cwimb the colur wings on da wainbow soos you can peeks in on your familees and den I teaches you how to sneaks back for a visit when dey be sweeping, you can gives whiskery kisses and dey tink dey be dweamin but it be weal, we dooes it all da time." "Hey guys" Muldoone began, you bees hungwy? I bees hungwy, come on and I takes you to da fwuit bar." Down the path the group headed, some of the new comers still holding paws, others feeling confident enough to walk without holding the paw of the ferret next to them. As SodaFerret watched them go, he felt a tear slide down his chubby little cheek. He looked forward to the day when he would see his familee again. ~~Muldoone~~ Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge. http://mrmuldoone.bravehost.com/index.html [Posted in FML issue 5243]