I guess I should start at the beginning.... Doc came to me years ago from a person who was moving and could no longer keep him. This guy called me from a local filling station and needed to get rid of Doc right away. Of course Doc was welcome to share our home. Doc was an 8 month old beautiful albino boy with a collar that had been on too long. I immediately politely chastised the guy as I removed the collar. The collar had gotten wet when they bathed him and shrunk so tightly that Doc was not able to eat very much or walk very well. As soon as the collar was removed he danced around the house. Soon after his person left, Doc found one of the food bowls and inhaled every tasty morsel. I showered Doc with hugs, kisses, cudddles and more love than he knew what to do with (as I do all of the ferrets that share my home). Doc was the youngest in our home and the only albino male. He became quite aware that his status was of "my sweetie" (well, o.k. there are several of these but we won't tell Doc). Earlier this year, new ferrets joined our family. Of this group there were 3 albino boys. Boy was Doc mad. He ignored me, picked on the new boys, and avoided me at all costs. When he'd see me he'd go the other direction (honestly). I tried harder to please him. No luck. Then the other night Doc kept scratching at my legs so I'd pick him up. I was making recipe at the time so I'd cuddle him then pass him to Tina to hold and cuddle. He'd struggle in her arms till she let him down. Then he'd start at my legs all over again. Finally he nipped me right above the knee. I picked him up, had a talk with him and passed him to Tina. Again he struggled. I spent the next 15 minutes dancing to keep him from doing it again. Finally recipe was done and I picked him up and carried through the house as I filled saucers. Later that evening I was standing in the hallway looking into their room and Doc comes up and promptly nipped above my knee again. He gets a good talking to, ruffled up and sent on his way. The next evening I spent most of the time playing with, hugging, cuddling him. Whenever I saw him I grabbed him and cuddled and tickled his belly. Yesterday I had a 5cm growth removed from the back of my leg just above the ankle. This morning I took the bandage off to change it and Doc was at my feet. He sniffed the incision site and had a very concerned look on his little face. I moved a few inches and he followed my leg. He gently stood on my leg and sniffed higher only to end up back at the incision site. He sniffed all around my leg and then seemed to be satisfied it was only in one spot. Others sniffed but didn't show the concern Doc did. I think I'm finally forgiven. :-) Condolences to all that have lost their little ones. Thanks to all who have donated the dollars. Thanks to all that are surfing for us. Hugs to all. tle [Posted in FML issue 2443]