Dear Sandra, I am so sorry that I did not answer you sooner, but things have been pretty darn busy up here. We just had a baby Swift arrive a few days ago and she was so tiny when she passed here, and so very sweet as well. The people at the Mobile Wildlife Centre as well as the lovely lady that found her, did everything they could to keep her earth bound, but she was ready for the Bridge. In fact all of the "motherly" ferts were clamouring to have that chance to be her new mommy, but it was Athena who won out in the end. As an Angel of Comfort the Big guy felt she had not only all of the skills needed, but she also has the heart as well. I spent quite a few days checking in on them and am happy to say they are *both* doing well. I would go as far as to say Athena is glowing even more then usual, can you imagine that? On top of being this beautiful little albino girl, she now glows all soft hues of pinks and whites now, and everyone that sees her knows that she has made a warm and loving place in her heart for that tiny, baby bird. At any rate, I received the paperwork about Sugar Babe just this morning, and lucky for me, she took her time arriving here!! It's the memorial journey we all take before we get here and often times there are so many wonderful moments that we had in our earthly lives, that we can't help but stop and relive them over and over again before we finally end up at the Bridge. As fast as I could, I went and found Athena, who had already gathered up Zues, Merlin, Spanky Rose, and Louie ville Slugger. Darling Athena then told the lot of us that she wanted to make Sugar Babe's arrival really wonderful... it's that new mommy thing I guess ..... she wants to take care of everyone and as we were to learn, to decorate the place as well!!! Everything is usually in full bloom here, so she decided to decorate the Bridge, and set us about gathering poppies and lavender and white roses and these really long strands of honeysuckle ..... so not only would it be beautiful, but it smelled yummy as well! Oh and Spanky Rose made these lovely lea's, and passed them around for us to give to Sugar. I clearly remember when Sugar Babe arrived here. It was a quiet, misty morning, and as she walked across the bridge the mist gently swirled about her, and made it appear that she was floating in mid air. The sun was glinting off her glossy, dark coat and she had this serene look on her face and was an absolute vision of loveliness. One by one we gathered about her and draped her in sweet smelling flowers and when we stood back, it was funny, but all you could clearly see was her tiny, adorable face! She took her time enjoying the sweet perfumed petals before shaking them off her body and the running to and wrapping her tiny arms around Rosie and kissing her all over. They war danced and hugged some more, and chattered all about how happy they were to see one and another and finally they invited the rest of us to pile in and properly greet Sugar Babe. When I had some private time with Sugar Babe, I took her to the "Viewing Pool", it is the place we all go when we want to check in on our loved ones. All we need to do is to whisper your name and then you appear. You see it is every bit as important to us that we see how you are doing and that also be able to show you off to the new friends we are certain to make here. She was very eager to check on you, and for you to know a few things. When we are given a forever home, it is known far and wide, that we are given our own piece of heaven on earth. Forever homes, no matter how long or how short we live there, are *always* filled with copious amount of love and tender care and laughter and are always, always safe and snug and cozy. As I have said in the past, the love we are given, as well as the love we gave comes with us and when leave our heaven on earth , and is something that is clearly seen on us when we arrive at the Bridge. I think Sugar Babe put it best, she said, "To simply say thank you mom for my forever home, or even to say I love you, does not quite cover just how much you mean to me, and one day, when the time is right, that door to heaven will open up to you and we will all be waiting there for you, and then I can show you!" In Love & In Comfort, Pie O' Pah [Posted in FML 6036]