Nicodemus at Stanley Idaho
My wife Holly and I have seven of them now. There names are Mr. Squiggles, Vanilla, Shadow, Tuff, Harley, Bonnie and Clyde.
He passed 2 months shy of his 5th birthday from bladder cancer. He remained vital and lived a quality life right up to his last three days with us. He passed quietly on April 9th, 2004 at 10:55 am. I was with him at the end.
Rather than dwelling on his passing, I want this page to be a celebration of his remarkable life...
I purchased Nikki as a kit on July 26th 1999. The day before my 43rd birthday to fill the hole in my heart left by Farfel who was killed just 2 days before.
Like Farfel, Nikki led a wonderful life with us. He was a "house ferret" he was caged only for his own protection when we had heavy work to do in the house where he might be injured or as a displinary action when he played "Bed shark".
What is a bed shark? A bed shark is a ferret who sneaks under the covers of our bed while we slept and nipped toes. It was never a malicious act, it was simply Nikki's idea of good fun.
Nicodemus was an intergral part of my wife and I first meeting. We met on the net in March of 1999. We corresponded for about a week before we decided it was time to meet. I set the place. Not wanting Holly uncomfortable, I chose a public place. The Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I told her to meet me in front of the carmel corn stand. I explained "I would be the guy with a ferret's ass hanging out of a bag of popcorn". To Holly's horror, the carmel corn stand had folded months before. She, in her panic could not remember we had a back up place, the pet shop. On top of that, the mall was having an RV show. We could have passed each other a dozen times on opposite sides of a 5th wheel or a trailer that were lined up down the center of the mall. I had never been there before myself, so my knowledge of the location was nil. It was me walking by, carrying Nicodemus on my shoulder that assured her it was indeed me.
Nicodemus was an extremely good natured ferret. He never nipped out of anger or fear. This made him a fine business partner for me. Nikki, like his departed 'sister' Farfel, was my goodwill ambassador when ever I set up my silhouette portrait booth at a fair or show. He attracted people to my booth and helped me to market thousands of silhouettes. He tolerated anyone who 'had' to hold him. I honestly believe he helped hundreds of people decide to take a ferret into there hearts and homes. He truly enjoyed travel and exploring new places. When he wasn't curled up under a seat he liked to be on the dash to watch the world race by. One his favorite trips was our annual excursion to Stanley Idaho, high up in the Sawtooth range where we camped every July. He loved to dig up chipmunk burrows and climb the rocks that surrounded our camp.
Nicodemus never wore a leash except for his own protection. He could be called from 50 yards away with his "squeaky foot". This was a dog toy that he had to attack if it was ever squeezed. In his nearly five years in our lives he got out of the house dozens of times. We called him a homing ferret as when his adventure was over he would return to the front door of our home and scratch to be let in. Two of other ferrets, Mr. Squiggles and Vanilla follow in his brothers footsteps. They too have 'escaped' and always return. We had in the past lost two, Angelica and Zackary, who never returned.
Nicodemus had his loves and dislikes. His favorite foods were chocolate and "tuna juice" (what is squeezed from the can when making tuna salad). We honestly believe the chocolate prolonged his life considerably. It's high acid content helped treat his frequent bladder infections he was plagued with the last 5 months of his life. He loved with a passion digging up potted plants, escape attempts, napping in my stinky t shirts and snoozing in the bottom drawer of the linen closet. He detested being bathed and being told "no". His biggest hate was his squeeky foot, which no matter how furiously he attacked it, refused to die.
Nicodemus and his squeeky foot are silent now. They rest together in the wildflower garden he loved to play in, along side his 'sister' Farfel. He was lovingly wrapped in towel he slept in, with his foot and a Hershey's Kiss to snack on in his next life.
Rest well old man until that time we meet again over the Rainbow Bridge. We love you now and always, Your Mother and Dad