Dear AY, Sorry this is late in arriving, but I've been a busy fuzzit. It seems that this is the time of the year in which many of us come home to the Bridge. Like summers end when it is time for things to begin to cool down, and for the trees to change, but not really die, just conserve their energy for next year when spring comes gently forward. We are like that, like the warming heat of summer time, and the changing leaves and the gentle spring, and winter is our sleeping time. Hobbes came my way one brisk evening, and with him a very large scroll. As with all Greeters, we have couriers who come our way bearing news of those who are ready to come to the Rainbow Bridge, and sometimes just a note from those fuzzit parents who are asking for us to check in on their fuzzy loved ones. In this scroll I was asked to find three specific fuzzits; Holly, Boo-boo and Atlas. Well all I can say is this, we are never truly lost, so there is no finding to be had, only greeting and looking in to let parents know that their fuzzits are doing just fine, and it is with that thought I write this particular greeting. This evening when Hobbes came to my door, he did not come alone. With him were fuzzits, and by fuzzits, I don't mean one or two but dozens - clans of them! There were fuzzits from the Radford Clan, The Johnson Clan who included Sidney Sue, Slinky, Allie Boy, Polo Man, Roscoe, Fiona, Milo,Piggy, Jazzy, Sammie, Scooter, Bear, and Abby, and last but not least the Scheidt Clan. That's a whole business of fuzzit I can certainly tell you, and it was like being awash in a waterfall of love and joy. As I walked outside and through the large crowd of fuzzie's, I was told many different stories of their lives, and how much love they were given and gave. There were funny stories and touching ones, and even a few sad ones, but all of them were filled with joy and wonder at being in such a good family and of fuzzit brothers and sisters who were left behind. They told me about Holly. Little Miss Holly-Berry Havens, a warm and friendly cinnamon fuzzit who came to her forever home as a notorious biter, but through the unconditional love of her mom she finally learned that not all hoomin parents are cruel. It is sad that we should ever have to be subjected to such bad parenting, but not all hoomins are cut out to have a fuzzit child in their lives - I think the Big Guy knows this and that is why he has such a great fondness for those who do have the capacity to love us with every fiber of their being. I heard about Boo-Boo too. Such a sweet and adorable boy, his health might have been an issue for his mom, but his *quality* of life was most certainly made better by the lengths his mom went to in order to take care of him. Each time he was held and fed, he shuddered with joy at the love he could feel washing over him. As his face was gently cleaned, he quietly dooked with love at the touch of his mom made him feel very, very special. And then the selfless decision she made to allow him to pass gently to the Bridge, well that by definition is the very act of unconditional love itself. When anyone chooses to do what is right for another, as opposed to what is right for them, they are, by every action, may be giving away a piece of their heart, but they are acting out of pure and unconditional love. I know I am repeating myself, but I can not stress just how much Boo-Boo appreciated being allowed to leave for the Bridge with his dignity in tact and even though is was not an easy passing, he was filled with the love of his mom as he passed on, and that is all that ever matters. At the last of this wonderful business is Atlas. What a grand name Atlas, one can picture him with a *borrowed* library globe hoisted up on his back! They talked about his fur more then anything else, because he had been, as they put it a "stunning angora boy" - Personally I have never greeted an angora before, so I was really looking forward to meeting him! I also found out that he was absolutely and grandly spoiled, which in every fuzzits opinion is the *only* way for us to be. He had a spacious condo, a fabulous patio set, and a swimming pool! Yes, by every means of the word, he was SPOILED!!!! And he appreciated it more then anything, but it was the love of his mom and dad he appreciated the most. Three very well loved fuzzit's indeed. We made our way, all of these clans, with all of these fuzzit's we made our way, paw in paw, to the Bridge. I wonder if you can imagine the line we made, the joy we carried in our hearts, and the love we carried as well. The path we traveled was lined on either side with wonderfully carved jack-o-lanterns. All of them with smiling or funny faces. The glow of each one made me chuckle, because the Big Guy made certain our trip to the Bridge would be well lit, and he did it in his usual flair. When we reached the Bridge, it too had been lined with lack-o-lanterns of all shape, color and size. The trees where filled with dreamy, autumn foliage and the Bridge itself was awash in a golden light, and there waiting om us was Big Daddy Ferret and Baby Ferret were waiting for us. I always hold my breath when these moments happen, because even though I have been here many times, each one is always beautiful to witness. Out of that glow came Holly, Boo-Boo and Atlas. When we are born, we are whole and waiting for the right, as you so wonderfully put it, ferrents. If we are lucky, as Holly, Boo-Boo and Atlas were, we find good ferrents. We live our lives, and we are loved and then one day we return to the place where we were created, and we are whole again. As was Holly, Boo-Boo and Atlas were, whole, and healthy, and running around, so excited to see everyone, and so happy to be around their fuzzit brothers and sisters again. Their message to you is simple. "We love you, and we will always love you, and one day, we will see you again." In Love & In Comfort, Pie O' Pah [Posted in FML 6864]