Dear Ferret Folks- I'm thinking that people are sending me gifts so that I will have to thank them on the FML, instead of having my FML holiday in peace. The Good There is a lovely person out in Cairo, Illinois who sent me a completely unexpected present that I very much appreciate. Who is this mystery benefactor? I have no idea. But they are very kind, and it was a good gift.It makes me think of the goodness of the FML, the kindness that I have often had extended to myself in hard times, and to others as well. The Bad Recent events had made me forget some of that goodness. I was focused on the badness of the FML, the sadistic pleasure hominids in groups get out of squatting on the dusty savannah, picking one another's fur for nits, and chattering unpleasantness about another member of the troupe while the fat-bellied males doze in the shade. This particular call means "I don't want to start something, *but*..." <http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~seyfarth/Baboon%20research/CT%20scream.wav> The Unexpected Then there are the unexpected pleasures of the FML. I have a new FML friend. Her name is Tressie. You may remember *her* troupe call, but we decided that we are feisty women, and we should stick together. The most powerful thing that people can do in this life is to change their minds. We decided to do that. AH! I have to go groom Tressie's back. Canadian nits are particularly tasty. Alexandra in MA [Posted in FML 6115]