Hoshi

JMJ. Hoshi died this last Tuesday. She was the last of seven ferrets Linda and I have owned (owned by is actually closer) over the last ten years. We've had cats our entire married life up to the last five years or so. A couple of them were really great, most were nice to have, and of course a few were real duds. Just like people, I suppose. One of my best buddies, Hawk, turned me on to ferrets. Linda was not too sure, though, but gave me a grudging ok. One November night I came home with a little fuzzball who poked her head out of the cardboard carrier and straight into Linda's heart. Neither of us ever looked back.

Most we bought from pet stores but a couple we adopted from a local ferret shelter in Cleveland. Each one has had a unique personality and each left tiny foot prints all over our lives. Hoshi was the last. She died of cancer of the pancreas. Five years old. We'll miss the patter of her feet down the hall, her stealing of toys, her nesting in the lowest drawer of Linda's dresser when done playing, and her drinking out of the tap when Linda took a shower. We both decided Tuesday that there wouldn't be any more for some time to come. Losing each was a wrench at the heart strings and we weren't sure we could do it again. Not for a long while anyway. Thursday I filled out the on-line adoption application for two ferrets from the shelter. That hole needed filling and only a little fuzzball could do it. Thank you, Lord, for these tiny gifts.