Good Drugs

This morning I went to go visit Ricki and Swiper. The cute ferrets that I abandoned. My friend Simone is making me laugh. I have to get out of this funky mood.

Ricki is sick. When I arrived at the shelter, Ricki was lethargic and her eyes were dull. Swiper looked confused, but alert. Ricki is usually very wiggly. Today, she crumpled in my arms like a overused dish towel. My first reaction was to panic. "What are these people doing to Ricki," the voice in my head ("VIMH 1") yelled. We clutched Ricki, but we could feel her bones. VIMH 1 whined, "why can we feel her bones?" I took a deep breath and looked around. Bobbi, the ferret keeper, and Sharon, a dutiful volunteer, were there cleaning and playing with various ferrets. The shaded sun washed over the room and drenched the playpen. The Others wrestled in the playpen. Some of the Others snoozed in rainbow colored hammocks. These are good people.

Long story short, Ricki exhibited signs of an ulcer (details involves consistency and color of poopy), which was probably triggered by the anxiety over leaving her home. Poopy really does tell one about ones health. Did anyone see "Queen Margot," or was it "The Madness of King George"? In any event, there was a guy (the "Royal Poopy Monitor") in charge of monitoring King George's poopy and urine. Can you imagine, such a job? In the movie the Royal Poopy Monitor ran across the court's lawn with turquiose colored urine and brown oblonged shape poopy sloshing around in a glass jar. That's honestly all I remember about the movie. Well, modern doctors believe King George may have had some specific disease on account of the Royal Poopy Monitors observations.

My feelings of abandonment were compounded by the apparent abuse and neglect that I inflicted on Ricki. Between Ricki and Swiper, Ricki was always the one taking risks and being independent. When we'd go to the vet, Swiper would hold on so tight and crawl in my shirt. Ricki, well, she was running around and squirming all over the place. I labeled my ferrets; put them in a proverbial characterization "box." Oh boy, and can I relate to that. Even as a single independent woman there are times when well that description doesn't fit. Lots of times. I am vulnerable. I am the luckiest person because I need people. I am not an island. Ricki needed more hugs. Swiper needed hugs. We worked it all out. My worse fear about Ricki and Swiper situation was that they were being treated poorly and suffering. Bobbi made a soup for Ricki and gave her amoxicilian. By the time I left, Ricki eyes were brighter, she ate half a raisin, and she wiggled.

Sassy Girl says, "you love everybody get use to it."