Dear Tara, There are times in even a Greeter's life when we are not as much ready to say Goodbye, as we are sad to say hello and greet a new arrival. This is one of those times. I sat here ... all through the week before Slinky arrived ... I, along with Princess, Jynx, Ricky and Ellis and we prayed. We prayed and we sent as much healing energy as we could. We sent Healing Angels for him, and Comfort Angels for the both of you. We held candle lit vigils and stayed awake night and day and paced back and forth begging for second and third and tenth chances but still... Still... it was his time to leave. I've asked the Big Guy once before why are lives are so short, why not longer? And He told me that the purer the spirit, the brighter we burn, the shorter our lives, it simply what it is ... and He always leaves it at that. We are, in essence, a fuzzy ball of unconditional love. Together with your love, your patience, kindness, warmth ... and left-over, plastic grocery bags ... we thrive. We do more then that, we war dance and bounce off of the walls and furniture. We steal your socks, your keys, your toiletries but most of all your heart. We dig deep into the inside of your brand new couch and make a nice, dark place to sleep, but are equally happy falling asleep in the comfort of your arms. We poop, a lot, and every where BUT on the papers you have neatly placed in each corner of your house on your nice, hardwood floors and the few times we do, you praise us with Ferretone or some other yummy treat, and all the time loving you more then you could ever possibly know, so it should come as no surprise that when it is time for us to go ...... well, we are equally as sad too, but we always leave behind our love, our very last gift to you. I know you've seen them. Ellis from the corner of your eye, Ricky's nose poking from around the island in the kitchen. You have felt them as well, Jynx and Princess dancing on your bed as you hover in between sleep and waking. Rascal brushing against your ankle. In time Slinky will be a part of that presence too. He will tickle the back of your ankle, but he won't bite, no, not like your Shark Baby. He will jump upon your bed, and you will see him from the corner of your eye, and that scent, that sweet, sweet, fuzzy scent, you will smell it when you least expect it. So it is, we sat, and we watched and when we knew it was close to Slinky's time, we walked. Paw in paw, a very, very, long line of us. It was not yours who came, but my mum's as well. You and she have been tied together by our very presence and from that a very special friendship has been formed and continues on. We are all there, and though you did not get a chance to meet all of us in life, we walked on. Hobbes, Bear, Momo the Beast, Mazzie, Ellis, Ricky, Macari, Maharet, Raphael, Rascal, Obi, Tisha, Autumn, Jynx, Boo, Princess, Simon and Piper. Many beautiful colors, many beautiful memories, little paws and pinky-pink noses, or in other cases cool, dark sable noses. We heard you talking with the doctor, heard you make the difficult decision to say goodbye, and whether you believe it or not, even in making that choice, you still were giving Slinky unconditional love. Many times in the lives of fuzzit parents, you must make decisions that are in direct conflict with your emotions. It's a difficult and painful thing to even consider, but in the end it is the right decision for the fuzzit, even if it isn't the right one for your heart. You made the right decision for him, and it is one he is ever so grateful for. I know, because he told me. Yes, we got to that Bridge just as he was falling asleep in your arms, and that's what it was, ajsfkhDG (KEYBoard slid i n g out of my paw range ........) Just like falling into a deep, peaceful sleep mommy (it's me Poopy Pants) I just decided to jump in and and take over, You were right, me and Pie I look so much alike, we could be twins. I just wanted to tell you that my life became far better the day you adopted me and Bandit. We didn't get to get out much before we came to live with you, and I had all kinds of problems with my ears and then my tummy, and loosing my hair, but each and every time I didn't feel well, there you were to take care of me, and to take me to the doctor, and give me my medications and spend nights awake holding me and comforting me and most of all loving me. You did everything for me and I could have never asked for more ..... never asked for better ..... then you mommy. It really was just like falling asleep, and then I dreaming, and in that dream I saw all of the very best moments in my life, and you were in every one of them. I could hear the voices, so many different voices. There was you saying goodbye to me, and kissing the top of my head, you know the place where my hair was kinda thin? And there were ferret voices, lots of ferret voices, calling to me, telling me they were waiting. Then there was a bridge, it was white, such a bright white, and it felt safe ..... and then I arrived. It was lush green and full of white blooms and in the midst of it all I saw them. So many fuzzy faces, and even though we had never seen each other before, I *knew* them. I have known love, but never lost it, because it came from you. I love you so very much mommy, and I'll see you later, I promise, and even though I only got to enjoy my new blanket set for a few moments, I LOVED it and Pie told me I'll get the very same set made up here! asjkdkhFHGEQIRHOI ( keyboard being taken back) My turn! He is here Godmommy, he is safe and he has all his soft, white fur back, and yep, he and I are going to have a real good time together! In Love & In Comfort, Pie O' Pah [Posted in FML 6780]