dughlas

Uhm, what kind of wind? Some are more likely than others to disturb your sleep.

Just Gary?

Greetings Albert. I hope you slept well and wakened fully rested.

I don't know what to say, I'm simply heartbroken ... I feel for Eric, I too find it difficult at times to reach out for something I want/need for fear of being rebuffed or disappointed. Rational, no ... human, very. Felicity needs to get away. The "Ogre" (oh that's not fair, it's unkind to ogres) has beaten her self-worth as surely as he's abused her physically, making it particularly difficult to find the wherewithal to leave. I think it fortunate that she has the planning for Adam & Andy's wedding to give her purpose. I'm curious, did the abuse only begin after Adam left home or is it longstanding, we're not likely to know. Andy is caught between the proverbial rock and hard place in both cases. Should he push either Eric or Felicity in the direction we all think they should go it could breed resentment. You've done outstandingly well with this difficult chapter. Kudos.

Thanks bro. It's uncomfortably warm and humid but more comfortable weather is due tomorrow.

I still have memories of making pie dough with my paternal grandma. I'm told I was her favorite though as a child I only knew she loved me. Grandma was old school, she kept her flour in a large stoneware crock. My cue was when she got the crock out. You see I was too short to reach the counter so I pushed one of the kitchen chairs up against the counter beside her then climbed up and stood on the seat. Grandma baked a mean pie, couldn't bake a cake to save her soul but pie she could do in her sleep. She taught me each step in the process, measuring and mixing, rolling out the dough before folding and pressing it into the pie plate. I have and cherish some of her pie plates, a couple are older than I am. You've done well today Page, creating memories with Max he'll cherish always. Blessings on your head and his.

And to not send his greetings in return.

Teaching Max to bake? We went out to a local restaurant only to find they had a 35-40 minute wait. Really at 4:45 on a rainy Thursday? Well yes of course it's Veterans Day a lot of folks out for their free meal. We ended up with a sub from Jersey Mike's.

I got mine this passed Tuesday. My arm was tender for a couple days otherwise no issues.

After an uneventful drive we arrived at mum's about 1pm. It was bittersweet since Thistle's abscence was front and center. In the past he would be the first through the door. He would race through the house barking to announce his joy and excitement at being back again. Today it remain quiet ...

The day has dawned bright and clear. With good fortune we'll reach mum's before the showers predicted for afternoon and overnight arrive. Blessed be y'all.

We've arrived safely at our hotel in NC, had a light dinner and now we're resting before sleeping.

Hope to be on the road in about 5 hours. We'll stop for the night at our usual spot. Blessed be y'all.

I am so very glad you and Morgan have the chance to be dads. It's the most lovingly beautiful, frustrating, frightening, awesome experience you'll ever have.

Thistle's ashes were returned today. I hadn't expected them until later this week. I'm taking them along to SC.

I had a text from him earlier this evening saying he isn't expecting to be released before Thursday. Apparently there are two types of pneumonia currently circulating here and he developed the more nastier one.

He did not come home today. He's doing okay just not progressing as they would like. I likely will not get to see him before we leave because the hospital has restrictions on number of visitors, only one per day.

So it seems I did myself an injury as a result of that very fast walk on Saturday. I've developed tendinitis in the the tendons at both top and bottom of my right hamstring. The connection at the lower is the most uncomfortable. I skipped walking yesterday to rest it but will leave soon to walk this morning. Planning a slower more relaxed pace. On another note, my dad was taken to the hospital on Sunday afternoon. It seems he developed non-Covid pneumonia. Spent the last two nights there for treatment. Waiting to hear if he'll be released today. Mum and I leave tomorrow morning for SC.

Thistle was very vocal. One of my favorites was when he and mum first greeted each other when we returned from our morning walk. She would ask if he had a good walk and he would literally say "uh hunh".

An ooey, gooey mess?

Thistle used to do that with me.

Where is your kitty toe-warmer?

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks. I have been slowly cleaning and packing up his things, the multitudes of toys, blankets, collars, etc. into small tubs for storage. Perhaps in time there will be another pup. If not then in time when my heart is not so broken I will pass them on to others. For now I feel compelled to keep them safe. Food and treats are sorted to share with other pups within the extended family. Two items I have kept aside, the fleece sweater that he wore on chilly morning walks and a small bandana he had been wearing the last few days. The scent of him still lingers on them ... most recent mornings found him snuggled under the blankets against my chest .. the smell reminds me of when I would first come awake to find him there ... the warmth of his small body and the way he would shift sleepily when I would scratch behind his ear to waken him. I've gone to the park to walk the last two mornings. Yesterday I went at the usual time and walked in the predawn dark. I set a fast pace, the one I walk when alone never with him. Made it slightly more than a quarter mile before I was overwhelmed. I screamed and burst into gasping anguished sobs and raced along the darkened path for another 2 miles before I reached my car. I decided I couldn't walk in the dark another time so this morning I waited an hour until dawn began to lighten the sky. I set off at what became a surprising pace, 3 miles in 37 minutes. I don't know that I've ever walked so fast, I passed a trio of college-aged joggers. I know that I didn't intend to walk that fast and when I finished was shocked. There were no tears today, perhaps I outpaced them. It wasn't until I stopped at a traffic light and said "almost home little guy" and turned to smile at him only to encounter an empty backseat ... Last night we went out to celebrate my son and daughter-in-law's fifth anniversary and had a lovely time. Tonight we'll join the others from the shop for a dinner celebrating the completion of another faire season. So while my heart and soul are battered and bruised life continues. Wednesday morning mum and I will load the car and head for SC. Thistle was my sixth pup and the one most firmly entrenched in my life. Sometimes he led the way, mostly he trotted along beside me, occasionally he scurried to catch up after stopping to sniff something of interest but always we were together. Each other's most cherished companion. Thank you all for allowing me to share him with you. Blessed be ...

Thank you Val.