I may be wrong in my thinking-but I just had to offer my experience on dealing with death. When I was 19 I got a cat. I had her 3 years before I had my first child. She was my baby before I had babies. When I was 38 years old, she died-just a few months short of her 20th birthday. I had had this cat for most of my adult life and she was my best friend. She has been gone over 5 years and I still grieve. Everyday, it still hurts. I never got another cat-have several stray barn-type cats, but not a pet-type cat. After years of trying to deal with the emptiness her passing left, I got ferrets! I still miss her terribly. You cannot replace one animal with another!! And because I know how deeply I am capable of grieving-I am already dreading the deaths of my ferrets. I love them so completely and just cannot imagine my life with out them. The only comfort I can take-and it is a small comfort, is that I know when my time is up, I will be reunited with them. It's not much, but for now, I will love them, and care for them to the best of my ability, and be thankful for everyday I have with them! GO...NOW...HUG YOUR FUZZIES!!!!! [Posted in FML issue 2869]