Mia

In Warm Remembrance of an Old Friend

November 7, 2000:
Geo picked up Mia in a shelter in Florida around 1992 sometime. Mia (who, despite Geo's first assumptions, is a boy) was an albino Marshall ferret. Playful as a young ferret, cuddly as an old man, Mia was a sweetheart throughout the 8 years we had him. To my knowledge, our "fat rat" never so much as nipped anyone, even once. With other ferrets, Mia wanted it understood that he was the boss of the business, and he didn't appreciate new ferrets in his house. For this reason, Mia and his friend Wizard had their own cage once we started collecting ferrets.
Mia was all the things a ferret is expected to be: a troublemaker, drawer-sleeper, plant-digger, sock-and-trinket-collector (though to a lesser degree), war-dancer extraordinaire. Most of all though, Mia was a snuggler and a kisser. He'd fall asleep in your arms. Mia was a friend.
He left us this morning. At 9 years of age, after a long, full life, his body was tired and sick. It was time. Goodbye, Mia-rat. Your daddy and I miss you already.