Tonks talk 4/16/22. Intro to Mina, and Ben and Wicket tribute.
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| Wilhelmina (Mina) Tulip Schug |
M. (Looks at Arwen lovingly) Thank you so much for having me. I have heard so much about the show since arriving the other evening, and then getting to watch the production yesterday morning really blew me away. I can't believe I am part of it all.
T. (Beaming with happiness) I wasn't looking for a cohost, but you were such a natural fit that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with you while meeting new folks and telling fun stories. By the way, sorry about the photo. Daddy seems to think it's funny to snap pictures of us while we sleep and then slip them into the blog as we talk.
M. I have noticed some childish behavior from Daddy now that you mention it. (Both Laugh)
T. You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait till tomorrow.
M. Sunday?
T. No, Easter. It's a holiday, which means Daddy and Obi are gonna do something stupid. Trust me, you shouldn't even get out of bed tomorrow. (The last is said as Tonks watches Obi and Daddy whisper something back and forth on the soundboard.)
M. They are really that bad?
T. (laughing while looking at Obi and Daddy.) Look at them. They have been plotting like two old geezers for weeks.
M. (Facepaws) I thought you guys were making those stories up. (sighs)
T. Welcome to the castle, sister, where the Jesters call the shots. ( gives a sardonic laugh.) Why don't you start us off with a few facts about yourself?
M. I would be delighted too. (Mina smiles and leans into the mic) Well, let's see. I'm 6 months old, a dark silver Sable with a medium build. I like long walks in dark tunnels while hunting. (Breaks off as Arwen cuts in.)
T. That's ok, dear. You can save those facts for another show.
(Tonks giggles, and Mina blushes.)
T. Why don't you tell us what brought you to the family.
M. (Still blushing but confidently, Mina replies) I think I'll skip forward to my first home after the pet store. I was purchased to be a support animal, but unfortunately, they couldn't keep a ferret, so I don't know all the specifics. Since I can't hear, I could only try to read lips. All I really know is what I could glean from when my owner surrendered me to the shelter.
T. I'm so sorry. That must have been hard on you both.
M. I didn't take it as hard Since I thought it wasn't my fault. However, I know my owner was upset.
T. Were you at the shelter very long?
M. From what I understand, you were there for about the same amount of time—about two weeks. The time went fast, and since I am such a snuggler, I got to have lots of cuddle time with the shelter people.
T. (says with a smile) They tried to snuggle with me, but I wanted to explore too many things.
M. ( laughs warmly) That's exactly what they said about you.
(Tonks joins in with a reminiscent laugh)
T. So, how did you end up here?
M. (Mina looks at Daddy for confirmation, and he nods and mouths, "It's ok.") (Mina looks back at Tonks) Well, your mommy was talking to the shelter lady and said that you were such a little $h!?, that she needed someone who would level the house back out.
T. (Stares at Mina for a couple of seconds, then bursts out in laughter.) Obi, you owe me three treats, and you have to convince Daddy to give me two extra chew sticks next week. (Looks back at Mina.) We had a bet. He said Mommy got you because she wanted a cuddle ferret like Daddy has.
M. (Smiles wide as she says) Oh, that was the main reason, but she also needed something to counter your presence.
(Tonks groans as Obi grins back smugly) Fine, Obi, you get my treats for the next 3 days. (Tonks groans again, and everyone else laughs.)
T. (Clearing her throat, Tonks begins again.) Regardless of the reason, It's wonderful to have you.
( With big smiles, Tonks and Mina hug quickly and retake their seats.)
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| "Mina" Tulip Schug |
T. Since we will be telling some of the adventures that have taken place over the last few years, I thought it would be essential to talk a little about Ben and Wicket, as they each held prominent roles in most of those adventures.
T. Ben and Wicket came from the same shelter you and I found ourselves at. They had been there a while, as Wicket was difficult for many people. She would bite and bite hard. People feared her and would go out of their way to avoid her. On the other hand, Ben was as laid back as possible. I don't think I ever heard of him biting something other than his toys or Obi's monsters. (Tonks gets teary-eyed, wipes them dry, and sniffs.) Ben could have found a home instantly, but he and Wicket were inseparable.
Pickle Juice. https://www.etsy.com/listing/294781515/ferret-skin-and-coat-supplement-treat
( After a bit, everyone sits back down and dons their headsets. Daddy counts down and then gives a thumbs-up.
T. Welcome back, everyone. We are going to start this segment off with Wicket.
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| Wicket "Little" Esther Schug |
M She was so cute!
T. And that "cuteness is what drew Daddy to her. Wicket was a tiny terror, and most feared and wisely avoided her, but not Daddy. After spending just a few minutes with her, he looked at the Shelter Person and said I'll take them. Daddy felt confident that he and Mommy could change the behavior and provide a high-quality life for her. Wicket got the nickname "Little" because Daddy always called her the "littlest" weasel.
M. (wipes eyes) Did it take a long time?
T. Not at all. Less than a couple months. Daddy let them compete in the agility trials about four months after getting them, and people were holding Wicket left and right. Daddy warned everyone about the potential of her nipping, but she never did. He said you could see the surprise in people's eyes once they realized who she was (many people at the other shelters knew of her.)
M. WOW! That change must have been drastic. Did she ever nip anyone again?
T. (chuckles) Oh yeah. Every time Wicket got angry at Mommy or Daddy, she would run in and bite Mommy. Of course, she wouldn't do it super hard, but just hard enough and long enough to get her point across.
M. (looking confused) Wait, even if she was angry with Daddy?
T. That's right. Except for the very beginning, and sometimes, when Wicket and Daddy were playing, she would bite Daddy hard. Daddy would remind her, and she would let go, and they would start playing again. After the first day or two, Wicket never bit Daddy out of anger or retaliation. Wicket reserved that for Mommy. Yet, even after the first few weeks with Mommy, Wicket never tried to hurt Mommy maliciously. Sometimes, Wicket would play too rough and hurt Mommy's hands, so they would pause and resume play in other ways.
M. Well, that doesn't sound like she was meaner to Mommy.
T. (Tonks gives a chuckle) Any time Mommy or Daddy would clean up toys, confiscate stolen socks, change linens, you name it. Wicket would run in and bite Mommy, never Daddy. She would bite almost hard enough to break the skin and wait for Mommy to make a hissing sound, and then she would go off and do her thing. Then, satisfied, she got her message across.
M. ( looks stunned) Wow, Fierce!
T. (Looks pensive) She ruled the entire house like that. No one ever got hurt, went hungry, or was without water. Everyone had plenty of toys, and she ensured Mommy and Daddy stayed in line.
M. I want to be like her.
T. (With a worried look, Tonks says) But I'm like her.
Daddy. (Clears throat to interrupt the ladies.) She would be honored to have you both be like her; however, I don't think you will get away with taking your anger out on Mommy. Please leave that as part of Wicket's legendary personality. (Both nod and instantly smile when they look back at each other.)
M. I can guess what role Wicket would have played during an adventure.
T. Role, or roles?
M. You mean she played multiple roles? (Looks even more astonished)
T. (Laughs loudly) She had to. (Waves at everyone else) Do you think those lazy nitwits do anything? Wicket was a General, Navigator, Engineer, and Chief of security, really just about anything you could think of. (Tonks looks at Obi) All he plays is a pirate. He grunts the same lines, and do you really believe that idiot can do anything other than threaten people with the plank?
M. ( Starts to laugh)
T. (waves to Sadie) And all she does is egg on Obi's ego like a shoulder parrot.
M. (Laughing much harder)
T. Ben he would show up like Han Solo after not doing any work and get lucky enough to win the day before Daddy catches us and grounds us.
(Tonks pauses; Mina is rolling on the floor laughing; Obi is yelling that he is an Engineer; Sadie grins like the "Cheshire" cat, and Daddy is making a cut sign.)
T. (Looking surprised): Oh, my look at the time. We must take our final break. See you all in 10.
(Daddy cuts the sound just as everyone starts laughing.)
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| "Gentle" Ben Bosley Schug |
T. Welcome back, everyone, for our final segment, in which we briefly discuss Ben.
T. Here is a picture of Ben as I knew him in those final weeks. Unfortunately, he passed for the Rainbow Bridge a couple weeks after Wicket. They were each almost nine-and-a-half; they also had advanced insulinoma and adrenal cancer.
T. (After wiping some tears, Tonks continues.) They did everything together and were never apart. After she passed, Ben would visit each of her rest areas before lying down with his hoard of toys.
M. (After a few seconds, Mina speaks again.) Now I'm beginning to see why you guys say they were legendary. If their deeds match their relationship, the Legend must be Epic indeed.
T. Epic it is, then. (Tonks gives a small shriek of delight.) I just love the way you think, sister.
M. (blushes and smiles) Great minds,
T. + M. Think alike! (Tonks and Mina laugh at their cleverness, Daddy facepalms, and Obi mumbles something about dorks.) (Daddy clears his throat)
T. Back to Ben. Ben was about as laid back as they come. Daddy named him after "Gentle Ben" in the show Grizzly Adams. Ben was entirely proper in most things, but he had his roguish side, and for this reason, Daddy also called him Benson from the sitcom of the same name.
M. I've never even heard of those shows.
T. (Snorts), none of us have; they are from before. (Both laugh)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_and_Times_of_Grizzly_Adams,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benson_(TV_series).
T. (clears throat.) Regardless of which Ben he was at the time. Rogue or Classy, he was as cool as they get.
M. I can't wait to hear some of the tales.
T. There are some grand ones, indeed.
M. So tell me more about this Suave gentleman known as Ben.
T. You already know the early stuff. Ben believed in relaxation. Don't get me wrong, he loved to wrestle and held the Strongest Ferret title for two years straight at the Ferret Agility Trials. He and Wicket had been gold medalists in several competitions but never bragged about it. You can find their trophies and ribbons in the dining room.
M. I had no idea, and I'm gonna go see those after the show. What kinds of toys did Ben like?
T. (Tonks smiles) Though he was fond of the crochet eggs, he claimed as many toys as he could defend. (Laughs) Ask anyone; he could protect a lot. He was so lucky that he would always seem to wake up if someone was at one of his other stashes, and he would always catch them in the act. He also had a dragon's memory; he would have it back within the hour if one toy disappeared.
M. That's disgusting that anyone should be that good.
T. (Snorts) That's only half of it. The rest of the time, he puts on his "Top Hat" persona and has everyone swooning, giving him more goods. Yet, he Was clueless that he even had that effect or luck.
M. Those are really some tough shoes to fill.
T. I think that is why Mommy and Daddy got three of us because they know Obi and Sadie will need all the help they can get. (Both laugh and Obi says something to Daddy about whether he will let her get away with that.) (Tonks and Mina each smile triumphantly.)
T. That's gonna wrap up our blog for the Easter Weekend. I would like to again thank my new and fabulous CoHost, Mina. (Mina Bows) And, of course, thank you to everyone out there for joining us.
T. + M. We hope we brought a smile to your day
T. See you next weekend,
M. And take care.
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| Nymphadora Arwen Tonks Schug |
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| Mina Tulip Schug |
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