Blizzard - One year later I am sad to report that it has been exactly 1 year since we have lived without our beloved little Blizzard whom we helped across The Bridge early morning 8/7/08. In December of 2008 we established, with the major assistance of Support Our Shelters (SOS) and their tireless Board of Directors, The Blizzard Memorial Fund. Since its inception over 7 months ago we have raised almost $3200! This is an astounding 13% of the total annual budget of SOS!! More importantly, a significant amount of this money has gone out to help: 1. The Colorado Box Ferrets rescue 2. The Nevada rescue (Linda Soule) [she named one of the rescued ferrets "Blizzard!"] 3. The Ferret Business of George rescue ferret, ShortStop Every day we are here is another day we miss our little Blizzard. We are however delighted that this fund has been setup to help ferrets across the USA who are in need of help now, while on this earth. We thank SOS for their year round assistance and commitment in this endeavor. Please make your donation at any time to The Blizzard Memorial Fund: Tax-Deductible Donations through PayPal <https://www.PayPal.com> to: [log in to unmask] Or to purchase/make donation benefiting SOS (setup by Kat Parsons): http://ferretlover97.terrabox.com/blizzard/IMO-Blizzard.html "All things pass; all that lives must die. All that we prize is but lent to us; and the time come when we must surrender it. We are travelers on the same road that leads to the same end." --Gates of Prayer: For The House of Mourning, Central Conference of American Rabbis Little Ferret's prayer "I'll lend you, for a little while, a ferret of mine," He said. "For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he is dead. It may be six or seven years, or maybe twenty-three, But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for Me=3F He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief, You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, as all from earth return, But there are lessons taught down there I want this ferret to learn. I've looked the whole world over in my search for teachers true, And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love, not think this labor vain, Nor hate Me when I come to call, to take him back again." I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done." For all the joy this ferret shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shower him with tenderness and love while we may, And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay. And should the angels call for him much sooner than we planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand." --Author Unknown Mommy and Daddy miss you so very much. Mark Sonder, CSEP Chief Entertainment Officer Mark Sonder Productions, Inc. 540-636-1640 <http://www.marksonderproductions.com> author, "Event Entertainment and Production" (Wiley 2004) [Posted in FML 6418]