Good morning, all-- It hurts to lose a friend, so much so that some of us have been tempted to withdraw from emotional involvement to prevent the hurt from visiting us again. Without a little risk, though, our lives would not be nearly as worth living. I would not have the memories of little Shiva, my 6 1/2 year old adrenal sable who left us for the Rainbow Bridge last night. She wasn't very bright, but she knew how to make me smile. Shiva's approach to life meant living every minute as serenely as possible. I guess she was making up for her confining start. She had been left in the pet store for the first five months of her life and was not highly socialized; yet, she became the closest companion my first ferret, Sylvester, could ask for. She loved company, and it was obvious that just being in the presence of someone--anyone--gave her great pleasure. God knows, she was anything but athletic. So how did she get up into the trash can that day so long ago? Oh, God, how it hurts. But, you know, my other girls, Noel and Pixel, will eventually welcome another sibling. The blessings are the important thing. Dooks and hugs, Linda Noel Pixel missing Shiva [Posted in FML issue 2357]