Five years ago I woke to pain. Not normal pain, excruciating everywhere pain. To get the idea, even my toe joints hurt to move. I could not move my head or anything without screaming out in pain. And the very thing every person needs to do when they wake up..... I nearly passed out from pain just getting to the restroom. I was diagnosed with possible Rheumatoid Arthritis, with the complication of Fibromyalgia in my muscles. I was 38.....arthritis is for old people, right... I got educated. And seriously depressed knowing there were going to have to be serious changes to my active lifestyle. It was really hard for the whole family. In October, six months later, my son turned 10. We had decided to get him a pet of his choice. The choice ended up between a ferret or a dog. We started looking at breeds of dogs, and reading "ferrets for dummies" how I love that book! We happened to go into a pet store. He had never seen a real ferret before. My cousins had them as kids, so I kind of had some clue about them. I knew how fun they could be. The sales lady put the cutest little sable with the white bib and mitts into his arms, and he was hooked. we brought El Bandito home but little did we know how much the love would grow... same as the ferret math. After a couple days, ElBandito wandered moping missing his buddies to play with. the humans were fun, but you couldn't wrestle with them. We added Bubbles to the mix.... and from there....usual multiplication happened to the total of 7 now. What really happened though, is these little buggers pulled me out of my depression by making me laugh, keeping me hopping with the ferret proofing, and theif chasing. I cannot see myself now with out my little buddies to take care of. Bubbles knows when an arthritis flair is coming, I don't know how, but if she's paying too much attention to my feet, I know to get ready. (It's also why she bites me when I wear socks in the house. She can't do a proper foot inspection when I have socks on! ) She wasn't trained for it, it's just something she does. The others are my non stop comedy team. I love them. I will probably never have another cat or dog, but I will always have ferrets unless I cannot care for them right. the happines they've brought our family is really great. How could I ever repay them? I wonder if they even know...... Cindy and the 7 laughter really is the best medicine! [Posted in FML 6502]