Dear Tater, We finally got your papers from your first Mommy. It seems that you were whelped on or about May 20, 1995. Guess what, Little Dude? It's your second birthday today! Even though we're up to our necks with agliators and work orders - not much time for the really important pooter stuff - we just couldn't let this day go by without saying Happy Birthday. Now, you probably won't think that today is anything special or worth getting all worked up about - since everyday is something special to guys like you. Us humans just aren't as close to the Spirit Who made us all as you and your fellow critters are. We get excited about special days, always wishing that we could learn and follow the lessons that you teach us. Like, that just waking up in the morning is a major cause for celebration - and a damned good reason to have a good time. We're just too busy with things that really don't amount to anything. We have a long way to go. For some strange reason, us humans would rather busy ourselves with climbing to the top of the dung heap that we built out of our stupidity and greed - no matter whom we step on or hurt in the process - just so we can loudly proclaim that it smells better up there! It's very sad, but that's just the way that humans are. It's funny - and tragic - how we make up excuses for ourselves when we hurt each other. What it usually boils down to is, "Hey, Iv'e got my piece of this pile of doodoo and, even though you helped me to get it, I won't share it with you - it's Mine! So much for the theory that humans are the highest form of life on earth!. Maybe we'll learn the true meaning of life from ferrets another critter-folks someday. Whoops! Paw Paw done overdosed on that box of Tide that Mee Maw fed him for dinner. Back to Taters birthday letter... Aside from the toys and treats that you'll get today, we want to say, "Thank you," for some of the many good things you have given to us, just by being yourself and by being here with us. First, we thank you for the gift of joy, and its cousin, laughter. Your antics and constant good spirits have shown us that we have a choice when it comes to the choosing. Youv'e taught us that, no matter how much pain or sorrow we might be feeling, we can choose to feel joy instead. We thank you for teaching us that it's OK to be fools - to risk being seen as total idiots - if it brings a smile to someone who needs one. Sometimes a clown can touch folks when others cannot. Sometimes a fool can bring more than laughter to a needful heart. Thanks, Tater, for infecting us with so much ferret-joy that we couldn't help but get you a buddy to play with when we couldn't be around. You and Odie are better than any medicine that a doctor could prescribe. Thanks also for the many good and dear friends that we have found because of you and your Bubba. Sometimes we think that you might have created a monster with that because we just can't keep up with all the folks that write to us about you and Odie - and the stories that you guys and us write about our adventures. We try to keep up, but we always fail. Perhaps we should give ya'll your very own pooter as a birthday present? Most of all, Birthday Guy, we'd just like to thank you for being you. On the 31st of this month we'll celebrate 34 years of being married together. Believe us when we say that the last two have been the most fun all. Thanks, Tater, for the joy and love. Happy Birthday!! Paw Paw and Mee Maw [Posted in FML issue 1941]