Mike, I must offer my thoughts re your post of 12/28/95. IMHO, the FML exists as a forum for all who have found ferrets to be one of the best companions a human-type person could ever hope to have. While we all enjoy the stories, poems, chuckles, advice and fun, helpful, things which unite and enlighten us, we must also be allowed to share the sorrows and tragedies which our love of ferrets, must , unfortunately, include. I have not yet experienced, though I know that it has to come, a serious illness or death of a ferret companion. I have, however, suffered the loss, over the years, of countless cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, alligators, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, etc. They have all, in their time, been my special friends and companions. I can fully feel the pain of someone who has lost such a special friend as a ferret. I am truly thankful that the FML exists and allows us to share, not only the heights of our common joy, but, also the depths of our sorrows. You see, Mike, we are not 'mainly strangers' here - we are friends. We are friends who don't know what each other looks like, don't care what other things each of us may be interested in, but are united in our common love of ferrets. The little guys seem to have that effect on us. As far as your objection to Kelleen's prayer is concerned, I think that God - whatever you may choose to call Him, or not - would not object to hearing any prayer which was so fervently offered. We deal with ferrets and our feelings about them here, not with our personal religious beliefs, or lack of them. Finally, I would suggest that, when you find a particular post objectionable to your particular sensibilites, you simply stop reading it and move onto one that is more to your liking. We are all welcome here. This is our list. Let us not quibble about and criticize those things which make us different. Let us concentrate upon and celebrate those things which bring us together: Ferrets. (Sorry, BIG. I don't presume to set any guidelines for the FML. As I said, this is only my humble opinion.) Paw Paw [Posted in FML issue 1428]