This Christmas might be in the top 5 during my 52 years of Christmas's... Richmond Ferret Rescue League is so darn GRATEFUL -- for just about everything. But some special thanks are in order- From our MANY, every increasing shelter ferrets -- from me, from ALL of us- and thus this list- (I'm doing this in alphabetical order- not according to who gave/donated the most) Donna & Howard Strickrod - Mom & Dad?of Rhett, Scarlett, Bud, Flower, Lola & LeStat... For sending donations each & every month, for always helping, for that HUGE box I found on my doorstep this morning- filled with gifts for her very much missed "babies". Don't worry Donna.. I'm worse than any parent - I already gave them a few gifts. God, I think I might now have a crush on LeStat. Trust me - he's SPECIAL. Karen & Allen Lamb- for their above & beyond belief + dedication to making sure my ferrets are... well, ..safe. For Karen- driving back 2 weeks ago to Arlington Animal Shelter (DC)- to pick up? 2 older ferrets- the AAS had already given us quite a detailed description of these 2 ferrets- the older male is adrenal -- so, off she went. Last night I called her -- to ask again if maybe she could pick up a very old, adrenal female (completely naked, except for a few hairs around her nose) plus, she has Lymphoma -- she's got lumps in her glands- Family has 8 month old baby, wife cut back on hours, etc. -- this ferret had to be picked up asap-Karen called me at 10pm last night to say she met with the owner, had this tiny girl, took her home, set her up in better cage, no difficult ramps to climb, took care of the OTHER 24 shelter ferrets, went to bed at midnight, got up at 3am to start her rounds-then off for her 1 1/2 hour commute to work. And she just says.. "No problem Marlene -- that's what we do.". I could go on, and on... Oh, did I mention that Karen & Allen have been with RFRL since 2005? Kris & Chris Church -- also part of RFRL since 2004 -- for building our great website, setting up a bank account for RFRL -- both of which Kris manages, for picking up ferrets anywhere near Waynesboro, C-ville, Orange and so on- Leslie Hill- who RFRL lost in Sept, when she moved to SC.- who sends us donations to our vet, for sending VERY much needed Gift Certificates for Ferret Depot, who makes sure that we're ok- Oh, Leslie, we so miss you, but understand. God Bless you. And the 8(?) ferrets that you still have . Tell them we appreciate Leslie for sharing with us here in VA. when she has you kids to take care of. SC needs more good ferret vets!!! Paige Collier- who also is part of RFRL- since early 2005- who took time to bring me a big bag of ferret food, a candle, "Re-gifting" a beautiful handmade fleece-filled Santa Stocking sleep sack to enclose these gifts, bring Odo-Ban, 2 bags of wood stove pellets... and Paige has 22 ferrets... plus grandkids, kids, husband... For SOS, who has also always been there for us- since 1999, I think... and who continues to help. God Bless you, Judith and Sharon...You are the 2 incredible women who I've had the pleasure of speaking with many times. Ok- I'll quit rambling... for now. There are just so many people I've never met, heard of, who have been very generous to us. But I'm hearing the band, queuing me that I've gone over the speech acceptance time... so I'll exit the stage... Thank you so very much. What a wonderful Christmas?we're having. Marlene Blackburn Director RFRL www.richmondferretrescueleague.org [Posted in FML 6550]