To everyone here at my extended family, the FML members, I want to wish you a very merry, blessed Christmas. I know not all of us are Christians, so don't want to make anyone upset, but whatever your celebrating at this time of year, I hope it's joyful. Lately the tragedies we've read about have broken my heart. Liz and the little ferret, the bad MF feed, CJ, Kevin, and so many, many more. I sit here at my work station early in the mornings or at noon and wind up crying. I know holiday's aren't the easiest things for everyone. You're supposed to be full of good cheer, busy, bustling, whistling. But for a lot of people that's not possible, especially with the loss of the babies. A few years ago John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote a song, "And So This is Christmas". It has another title I believe-"The War is Over", but I prefer the one pertaining to Christmas. I thought a lot last night about this song, and about all of us here. The first part of the song goes "And so this is Christmas, and what have you done, another year over, and the new one just begun". Yep, and so this is Christmas, and what have we done? We've helped each other, fought with each other, cried and laughed at stories together. Through the FML I've met marvelous people, and correspond with several on a regular basis. My babies Aunt Judy in Ohio, their Godmother Cathie Venturelli in Mexico, wonderful and funny Jeanne Pomp, Phyllis Smith, wonderful Randy Belair. Then there are the people you email personally to send condolences or information to-far too many to name. Then, of course, there's Bob C. What else can be said? Limejello and his exploding Brazilian Chickens that had me falling out of my chair and passing students thinking this woman needs a straight jacket! Mr. Bill Gruber, the man whose hair is probably snow white from moderating all of us (you drink decaffeinated beverages, don't you, Bill?) [Well, beer doesn't have caffeine, right? Though I do have some made with Starbucks coffee! BIG] I haven't voted for FML person of the year because I can't. Besides the ones that have been nominated, I can think of a large number to be added. I can't choose because they're all equal in my mind-that would be like asking me to give up one of my furr kids-no way. To all the people here who've rescued, saved, lost babies, in other words to all of you, I want to extend my hopes for a joyous season. Even though the hurts of the losses are right there at the moment, know the fur kids who've gone to the bridge are waiting for you. As Kevin says, the weangels are there, and all those babies are weangels. In closing, another line from the song named above. "And so this is Christmas, and I hope you have fun, the near and the dear ones, the old and the young. A merry day Christmas, and a happy new year, let's hope it's a good one, without any fears". God bless you all, happy holidays. I hope peace comes to all who are sad, and joy to all of us. Rebecca and the Crew of Merry Mayhem ======================= Rebecca McFarlane Secretary Basic Medical Sciences School Veterinary Medicine Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1246 Phone: 765-494-8632 Fax: 765-494-0781 "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup" [Posted in FML issue 2907]