I too read Dayna's post about the ferret with elastics around it's paws with a sense of complete revulsion and utter horror. Nuff said about how to punish the perpetrator should he/she be apprehended (hanging's too for em!). What I have struggled with is how to process such a horrific crime and regain my sense of calm. After reading the post I remained uneasy and tearful for the rest of the evening and throughout much of this morning. My thoughts came to rest on a lovely old movie called "Harold and Maude". It starred Ruth Gordon who played a lovely and joyous 79 yr old woman who meets up with a sad and struggling young man (Harold). Maude steales a police car when she needs some wheels to rescue a sick little city tree and transplants it out in the forest. She is gay, full of life, and lives every moment to the fullest. It is only in one small scene where we see the tatoo of a concentration camp on her arm that we understand the pain behind the joy. Out of the horror of that dear sweet little fuzzie I have made a resolution today to live my life with the greatest joy possible and share that joy with all I encounter. I will not let the evil some people do in this world bring me into darkness and despair. Today I have been given a gift. One that I will cherish and honor far into my old age. The gift came because someone had the courage to rescue a badly injured ferret and cared enough to tell us all about it. Dayna, that must have been very hard to write about and to experience. Thank you for your kindness, courage, and the gift you helped me to find. Peace Karen [Posted in FML issue 1564]