We just got back last (Tues.) night. Just in time, too -- Steve got a call today saying that the article with him will be "prominently displayed" in tomorrow's (Thursday's) New York Times. We'll be so disappointed if this is someone's practical joke. (It's basically a "right tool for the chore" type of thing we think. Steve lives many hours every day on many computers and servers, and this month marks his 21st year on a net (Though they had Usenet and others back then rather than the Internet as it is today.), but sometimes other and older tools just work better for certain tasks.) OBERLIN IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! About the only things they need are: slightly better prices at the Inn, and a ferret specialist vet. Otherwise, I'd like to move it here! Okay, let's start with the party. Linda is marvelously sweet and practical, and she managed to fit maybe twenty people and over a dozen ferrets in without raising even one drop of nervous sweat, though Joy had to dash away for a short while when a nail broke (Teasing you, Joy!). Folks came from Ohio, PA, and Michigan (Hi!). We had mirthful ferret song singing which Barb began with some of her's, and then Linda and Joy continued with a duet, and which even had one song in which we all participated in the chorus. There was lots of food, and folks read ferret stories. The best parts for us though were the conversations we all had! For people who pretty much hadn't spoken a lot together before except in letters we sure gabbed like crazy and not a person went away without learning something!!!!!! It was like we all old cronies, just as comfortable as can be. During it all ferrets kept climbing us, trying to steal someone's nylons (grin), sleeping in our shirts, frenching (Hey, Belle!), laughing at us, etc!!! We left our ferret photos at the Inn (which is only about a mile and a quarter away, but we couldn't bear to leave all those wonderful people! At least Linda and Laurie got to see them earlier. Did you know that Laurie's hubby can get anyone with four legs to eat? Oh, and Joy called us all to our food with a squeaky toy. Joy, BTW, was remarkably mentally mature and perfectly comfortable with adults, and obvious has the sort of close relationship with her parents all teens should have. Linda and Richard have wonderful nurturing ability -- you should see them with daughter and ferrets. These are gentle folks! We got to finally meet Cocoa Puffs whom we've known long distance for quite some time now. Cocoa has multiple medical problems which render surgery too dangerous for anything but a possible last resort try, but she is SO happy. It was like she'd known us forever, too. I just wrapped my shirt around her (Sorry about any exposed belly -- twenty years ago that looked good on me, but I'm not that young anymore), and she cuddled in. If I stopped talking to her or rubbing her ears she'd bump me for more till she finally dropped off for a happy snooze. Then when she woke up having to go to the bathroom she was very polite about it -- let me know she was awake and then rolled up and sniffed her bottom and looked at me. Isn't she a mannerly lady? I just can't believe how marvelous maintained her skin is for an almost totally bald little girl. She isn't at all dry or pimpled like will usually happen -- feels like warm glove leather instead. Bev DEFINITELY needs to write a skin care post; I've NEVER found skin so well maintained in this combination. I did NOT want to let go of her. (If she gets to the point where surgery should be risked despite her complications I wonder if she might come here to our specialist?) Then Bev plopped Wally in our arms and we fell in love AGAIN!!! This was REALLY hard, because we both wanted to bring both Wally and Cocoa home BIG TIME, but we've already got sweet 'Chopper with cardiomyopathy, and Wally has an early cardiomyopathy diagnosis. He's young, but he was starved before Bev got him and the cause is thought to be taurine deprivation and starvation. Now he is a FAT little tubby, who LOVES to rest on his back and share kisses and hugs. He also has the MOST AMAZING type of talking!!! Mostly it's sort of a Mmmmmmmmmrrufffffffhhhhhh and other nuzzly noises, which he shares and replies to. Anyone who recalls our Hale years ago will know that he holds conversations like she did. He REALLY liked to stick his head in Steve's glass and hear himself talk! Steve and I know that we should NOT have him in our family because we are stretched thin in the individual attention department, and we KNOW how hard it is and how very, very heart breaking to have them dying, but we both almost caved so I'm not completely sure we won't be having him in our arms again. He fell asleep in my arms, too, BTW. All in all, it was a WONDEFUL time!!!!! Anyone who missed it REALLY lost out. Oh, Oberlin ITSELF was amazing, too. It's gorgeous -- FULL of gardens and interesting tree species, recitals each night (Niki ACED her's! She found out some more good news a few days later, too.), marvelous art museums, craft shops, and we recommend the Mandarin, the soup and noodle shop next to the Mandarin, and the Fox Grape, and there are sidewalks or walkable shoulders everywhere so Steve and I enjoyed romantic strolls practically every day. Plus, it was productive! Sukie a P.S. One more thing about the party at Linda's: it was maybe 60:40 women to men, so it wasn't the female domain which a few (who have never attended any FML parties from what I heard) have accused such gatherings of being. No one felt constrained. There wasn't any of that old garbage of women being expected to kow-tow, or cower, or be mum. Nor were men expected to sit back and not take part. Instead, it was like the anniversary: each person valued for experience, gentleness, kindness, and helpfulness. Gads, I well recall when MOST men and women were too insecure to enjoy such a situation, (Still see this regularly with our parents' crowds.), but I have to say that the folks there were marvelous and we all just felt comfy, and respected, and valued. It was a wonderful group of people. [3 posts combined. BIG] [Posted in FML issue 2272]