Am I the crazy ferret lady?

Everyone has a bit of weird or crazy inside them and you get to decide how much you get to show and how it fits into your authentic self. I love animals and I have always loved the exotic animals you don't find commonly as pets. I have raised a wild baby racoon that was found orphaned,  on a construction site and a baby squirrel abandoned in our back yard. As a teenager I had a pet ferret who I adored and I knew one day after all my kids were raised and my bunny passed away that I would love to have another ferret. I didn't intend to get one this soon but fate stepped in and I ended up with two and a bunny. 

 I went inside the pet store to buy hay for our pet bunnies (my daughter has a bunny and two cats) and left with the hay AND a sweet baby ferret, I named Cosmo. It was a spontaneous decision made that evening, as I held this sweet baby boy. When he refused to go back into his cage, crawled up my arm and kissed me. It felt like he chose me first. I saw it as fate bringing us together and knew in that moment that he had to come home with me. Our bond has only grown with time.  During the pandemic other families adopted puppies and kittens. I adopted a ferret, which soon turned into two ferrets!

The thought did cross my mind that my adult children would think I was crazy as we already had two cats and two bunnies in our house. I also had a fleeting thought that buying this ferret would seal my fate and insure that I would be forever single. I quickly decided I did not care and that I couldn't let some mystical future man decide my present happiness. The right guy for me would have to share my love for animals and children. I am surrounded by both in my life. 

My kids did agree, they thought I was crazy, but they fell in love with Cosmo instantly. He had us laughing with his silly antics and even the cats learned to tolerate his energy.  I have no regrets and believe he was the best spontaneous decision I ever made!

Five months later I went back to the same pet store and adopted Cosmo a little sister I named Nova. Cosmo loved his little sister instantly and they became the best of friends. They go to work with me and the kids I care for love playing with them. Some of the kids I work with, don't have experience with animals and Cosmo has helped them overcome anxiety with animals as they learn how special these funny creatures can be. 

I take them camping and hiking with me, and once I even brought Nova to the mall in my oversized purse.  I tell myself it's to make content for their Instagram stories, but deep down I know the truth is that I love bringing them everywhere with me. These little exotic creatures bring me so much joy and laughter. I don't care if I accidentally turned into "that crazy ferret lady"! I am out here having a blast and loving my life and if that makes me crazy than I don't want to change a thing. 

A perfect night for me, is a good book, a mug of hot tea and two sleeping ferrets curled up near me after a long walk by the lake. The love and joy they bring me daily fills my soul and I feel as if I am in touch with my inner child, fulfilling that desire to be friends with the exotic animals.