In responce to whomever it was that wondered why we got our 1st ferrets.... Well, in a way, Bandit saved my life too. I broke up with the love of my life 2 years ago last Nov. He and I have always had a special bond...and I could always feel him, know when something had happened to him, and when he was upset without ever having seen him. I would be busy at work, and the feeling would just hit me. Well, at the time I didn't realize he was right in his leaving but he told me that he was so messed up he didn't want to drag me down with him. I can see after two years that if I had stayed with him, he would have used me up emotionally, and destroyed me. But when he left, I had such an emptyness in me. I felt hollow, and alone....and finally, after 4 months of trying to heal myself I walked into a pet store and bought my first baby.....and that is what he became to me. My students know that when I'm talking about my "babies" that it is my ferrets. Mom became "Grandma" and proudly introduces the kids as her grandchildren *grin* Bandit, and the "kids" that followed saved me. Saved my heart and my spirit. They love me, take care of me, worry about me. I remember so clearly a night after I'd spoken to Mike after we'd broken up....I ended up in the tub crying so hard I was shaking. The kids kept climbing up on the side of the tub to kiss me and look at me..and that night all four slept in bed with me. I stopped with 4 babies, when one of my friends reminded me..."Ummmmmm Marta, one more ferret won't make up for one big guy." [Posted in FML issue 2604]