Hello All, Today is a day to celebrate, our sweet dear little Princess crossed the bridge early this morning. Now, you ask, why celebrate? In mid February 1995, she developed a tumor in her mouth and was given 2 months to live. She graced and blessed our life for 1119 days longer than the vet expected her to live. This is why we are celebrating. She was a strong spirited gentle little soul, a tiny, petite little lady. She was 8 years of age. Princess came to us when she was four months old. Her mom could not keep Princess due to her husband objecting to the smell and to Princess' biting habits. Jenny wanted me to have Princess as she felt that I would take good care of her. Princess' name at that time was " Meanness". She wasn't really mean, she was just a kit and needed to be taught how to respond to humans. I told her that she was no longer "Meanness", she was now "Princess" and should respond as a princess would. I really don't know if she understood what I was telling her, but I truly believe that she did as she never attempted to nip or bite after that, even during play. Princess became Buddy's cagemate and they became unseparable. Gismo joined our family a while later and the three became the "Terrible Trio". Of course, they were not terrible, they just enjoyed harassing the others and simply enjoying life. Princess became very despondent when Buddy crossed the bridge following surgery. She did not wish to sleep in the big cage, so I moved her into a smaller one and she seemed to feel more at ease. She and Gismo were still playmates and remained so until Gismo left us last year. After his passing, she preferred to remain in her cage. She would come out and perform her daily patrol sessions and then return to her cage. My other ferrets seemed to know that she was in charge. If one of them approached her, all she had to do was sqeek at him/her and he/she would back off. Even the big hobs would back away when she spoke. Yes, today is a day to celebrate. Princess has joined Buddy and Gismo. I can picture them in my mind, running, jumping, dooking and playing in much the same manner as they once did in my home. I can almost guarantee that they are once again harassing Yogi and company. They are young, carefree, free of disease and illness and are waiting for the arrival of their special humans. Yes, today is a day to celebrate, not in her passing but in her living. She will be missed. She had such a strong will to live. She refused to allow the cancer to control her, she controlled it. She fought off an outbreak of distemper, helped Buddy when he was paralyzed from a fall and through his suffering of cardiomyopathy, and protected Gismo from Yogi and the gang. Princess was truly a princess. Thank you, Princess, for sharing your life with us. Celebrate little lady, you have earned it. Princess, defender of Gismo, take good care of him. In loving memory of Princess and the others, Margaret, Scott and her 18 brothers and sisters standing at arms, missing the one (please see our tribute page at:) www.exclusivelyferrets.com/tribute OR http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/1148/ [Posted in FML issue 2303]