First Half or Second Half - Go for it!

Frankly there are days, more than less, that I feel as young and vibrant as I did as a girl.

• I love the sunshine on dewy morning grass between my toes
• I don't fret endlessly about a little rain
• I enjoy a first snowfall
• I'm intrigued by lightning and thunder
• ....well that covers the weather.  
• I still think I can jump (I was a cheerleader for many years) at least I know the moves are in my head - the nerve to try it does lead to thoughts of the paramedics saying....."she was doing what?!" 
• I still love, love, love dogs - I would have 3 or 4 if the practical side of that situation didn't pop up in my mind's eye and so pour all of my doggie love out on my one doggie pal, Riley.  
• I still love ice cream
• Riding a bike
• Driving a car
• Singing praise Jesus songs with my arms in the air - (whoops, Episcopalians don't do that, do they?)  
• I still love to munch on chicken bones like my Grandma taught me to do
• Indulge in just a great big bite of steak fat, like my uncles always did
• I remember long car trips (where car sickness was sometimes a problem) and knowing now to always face forward I find car trips more fun than ever
• I remember Red River summers and fishing for trout in a stream
• Horseback riding with no skill at all - only nerve - 
• Square dancing with boys met at the dance
• Slow dancing to Elvis Presley songs on a record player 

I'd say I still do or would still love those things if I had the occasion to frequent such activities.

I was always an optimistic, let's-be-friends sort of kid, and was sideswiped more than once in my life by a "friend" who was NOT!  I never got used to that and can remember the tears vividly, letdowns from overly and misfed/misread expectations, but I learned.  The same lessons came with a spoiled first marriage - I was in it to trust - that's a huge 'nother story.  In business, a boss I wasn't crazy about occasionally, but still and all, I've remained as much an optimist now as I was as a first halfer.......remembering, looking back that first half can be beautiful in its naivete and also extraordinarily brutal in its let downs.....and hopefully one always has another chance in the first half.

And the second half, here it is, maybe more than the second half.  I believe that in this part of my life that you and I are here now to recognize the lessons we've learned, to realize that we ARE to be the grown ups, the wise ones, the leaders, we ARE the persons others want to look up to, we ARE the ones who know more than we think we do, who ARE called to teach, to lead and to mentor others who have not yet found themselves.  We ARE the people that we can work to make ourselves with God's help.  We are the THEY that are the leaders and adults now........we just need to recognize that of ourselves and get about living it. We need to Celebrate - Live it!

Too much expectation for the second half?  You don't want to lead, or teach or mentor, or exercise, or eat right, or read more, or study more, or work for a political candidate or cause, or go to church anymore, or take up a new hobby, or fly somewhere you've always dreamed of, or tried a yoga class because what would people think?.......The whole deal is, in my ever so humble opinion, is that other people don't think about you and I, (after all, we're old now) they think and worry about themselves so holding ourselves back because someone else might not agree with us can be a huge mistake for our bodies and our souls.   So first half or second half - first half fly, fall down, get up, learn.  And second half - fly, fall down, get up, and learn.  Time's running out and think of the fun you could miss if you don't go for or it today! 

Remembrance and rejoicing - yep, I'm pretty sure!

This is the first year in several years that we've put up a tree and/or really done much Christmas decorating at all.  Since retiring we've often been traveling or celebrated Christmas outside of our home.  I kind of resisted the whole decoration idea again this year but decided that since we will be entertaining family and friends over the holidays, it would be a nice thing to do:) - for them and for us.

A medium sized tree now sits decorated in our living room a-swirl with memories built into each ornament.....-handcrafted (my hands) Chrismons of white and gold pearl, along with cross stitching, church bazaar wooden handmade/hand painted animals; little bells, animals and photos gathered over the years as gifts and remembrances of our children's childhoods, a Christmas ball that plays young voices saying Merry Christmas Grandma and Grandpa, needlepoint decorations made by a beloved Grandmother now gone - all the Grandmothers and Grandfathers now gone, the aunts and uncles that always gave us gifts, they're gone too.

Ornaments for the animals - a Sheltie and a Westie - our beloved Sheltie Andy is gone this year, Riley still keeps us laughing but typically when remembering it's easy to slip into imagining how it will feel when he's gone too.........memories of Kat Mandu and gorilla man Sam slip into my mind as well.

But enough lumps in the throat - how about a little Christmas music - WHY did I think buying an album of Michael Buble crooning holiday songs would be fun?  I felt like weeping for one reason or another as each one came up - "I'll be Home for Christmas" - "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" - oh my goodness White Christmas reminds me of high school assemblies with us dreamily singing and all swaying together in our best Bing Crosby style!!

This a.m. stating/questioning loudly(?) or perhaps too "enthusiastically" to my husband (poor man) is how can I feel low this time of year?  I who have so much to give thanks for, I that have help in preparations, I that still have a mate strong and loving, I that still have children and grandchildren that I adore, I that have a beautiful home and on and on and on...........NOT TO MENTION or forget, I that still believe there was a Christ born on some unknown date 2000+ years ago - I that take comfort in knowing there is a loving God - how can I feel low????

This is to say that with all good intentions and desires to be in the present and to only think of the birth of Christ, human life gets in the way and there's a LOT of sadness surrounding my desire to "celebrate Christmas."  It might have been perfect when I was 10, or under, maybe or under was the best - but now I know that there are too many people pretending to be happy, too many families living in poverty and sorrow, too many old people alone and afraid - and if I possess a little decency, those issues and people cannot be just swept under the proverbial rug.  Remembering often and helping others where I can - maybe, probably, I'm pretty sure - that's the rejoicing that Jesus would have me do! Yep, I think so, yep, I'm pretty sure!

Squirrel Watching - Riley Style

It's grey, very grey
No blue sky to be seen anywhere
Damp misty fog filling the yard while
Chickadees scurry in the garden
First on the ground, then to the bush



Squirrels come down, foraging for leftovers under the feeders
Riley waiting impatiently inside the sliding door
Whining, insisting he must catch those squirrels; he MUST!



Birds hearing the dog's plaintive yelp flit away
Squirrels glancing his way, flaunting their freedom as if to say, "silly dog!"
Riley waiting, knowing, biding his time, trembling
"Shhhhh, please open the door, just a crack........"
Mad dashing and shrill barking; "Dang! Almost had 'em this time!"

Influence

While reading the scripture lessons for today, the word influence popped into my head; not an actual word that I read rather one that just came - the word itself and lots of tangential thoughts. How do I influence others - others in regard to faith that is? Where, when, why, and how can I know if I do or don't?

I suspect the word had something to do with having just joined the bloggers at High Calling Blogs. In joining, I found that the premise of the site involves blogging about one's life wherever that might be or encompass - workplace, home, sporting event, reading, etc. In blogging about a favorite subject or pastime, I am encouraged to be aware of how and where God touches my life - with the site proclaiming that we are with God and representing God every moment of our lives - at home, in the workplace, online, wherever we are. In that vein, I wonder where am I influencing others or convincing others of God's presence in my life and in influencing them toward God's presence in their own lives?

Surely on a daily basis the first creatures I greet each day, or maybe I should say who greet me are my dogs - Sheltie Andy and Westie Riley. They greet me expecting attention, food and water. That attention I would characterize as a circle of love from me to them to me. They expect a warm greeting - they give and receive a warm greeting, neither fearful nor intimidated by my presence. They expect consistent behavior from me and that I'll receive and give back the joy they give to me.

Do I cultivate this same circle of caring and warmth with the next creature I meet - my sleepy-headed, non-verbal spouse? I hope so. I honor his need for silence in the first hour of waking and generally greet him with love, expecting that same love in return. He respects my a.m. needs as well and has willingly (well sort of) ceded the larger bathroom in our home to me as his gift of caring - honoring my desire for separate - not necessarily equal space.

Out the door and into the YMCA for a workout, am I pleasant when greeting the staff behind the desk, my fellow exercisers, the slooooow parkers in the parking lot? Clerks in the supermarket, fellow shoppers that take a long time in completing their transactions, or hurried customers behind me with one or two items, tellers at the bank? How do they know me - my manners, my facial expressions, my smile, my voice? My fellow citizens, neighbors, church goers? I influence all of these encounters in some way - whether I recognize that influence or not. Do they recognize my faith, my God, my being - do I influence them positively or negatively? Do I want them to know God through me? Would I be pleased if they thought I was God's representative or would they be surprised? Influence - rich, poor, male, female, boss, employee, pew partners, treadmill trompers - we all impact one another in some way. It's a huge arena for influence, for evangelism of one's faith and daily life with God.

Do you think of your influence on others in a similar fashion? Have you encountered a holy rep this morning, this day, this week - have you been one? I'd love to hear where you think your influence might have been felt, even if only a little bit.

Too much fun

Image via Wikipedia

Eagerness and planning for a new and adventurous holiday is building in our home these days. The doggies are already noticing small stacks of clean and pressed clothing, as though offerings to the suitcase gods, laid out in the two front bedrooms. There's a lot of talk of "how long" and time zones and confirmations of "no smoking reservations." I'm beginning to think that the two of us enjoy the pre-trip excitement almost as much as the voyage itself! I don't know that my mind will wrap around too many serious thoughts this week for posting.......we'll see:) Who knows, Riley may have to speak up this week for me.......I'll see if he's up to it. ....I don't think he knows much about Greece's Santorini or Rome but that dog does surprise me occasionally with his input!

Grief and thanksgiving

Image via Wikipedia

Since my last post was about funeral planning, you might get the impression that I'm obsessed with death lately. To assure you and myself, I believe it's not death over which I obsess, but LIFE! I did attend two funerals last week - one for a 91 year old, beloved member of community and of his family, dying at home from natural causes - the other funeral for a vibrant 55 year old single mother succumbing suddenly to congestive heart failure leaving 16 year old twin girls bereaved and orphaned. So, funerals and dying are not subjects over which I obsess, rather events that strike close to home.

During the funeral week in my quiet time, I reflected upon the randomness of living and dying that may or may not have been written into my birth genes ....... purposefully during the week or maybe the word would be mindfully, I counted small blessings that could well just have gone by and been taken for granted. An evening get-together with friends with no purpose except to share our stories, good and bad, to laugh some and to ache some for lost opportunities and new challenges, an appreciation for walks with my crazy little dog, Riley, whose main purpose, I'm sure, is to make me smile every day, my own penchant for heavy duty exercising at the YMCA, acceptance of a volunteer opportunity to share my ability with a child not yet able to read so well, home-prepared meals with my spouse, plus a romantic dinner out - just the two of us, with acquaintances stopping by and asking us about the occasion that brought us out to toast, to whisper and to laugh together at the chef's counter of our favorite restaurant.

The goodness and the randomness of life was further stirred in my mind while listening to a priest's sermon on Sunday, (my apologies to the priest as my broad paraphrasing is probably only remotely close to his direct remarks.) The a.m.'s lesson (Mark 6:14-29) was that of Herod's order for the beheading of John the Baptist. The priest explained, "that time should perhaps be taken to reflect upon the verses preceding and following the story of Herod, i.e., Jesus sending out his disciples with no food, no bag nor extra sandals, etc. and then their return home to discover the beheading of their friend John. Why was the Herod story thrown into the context of Jesus' sending out the disciples?" With no offered answer from the congregation, the priest speculated that perhaps it was God's reminder of the randomness of life (or death) that in the midst of the promising mission of the disciples is dropped this tragic story of John's demise.

The story of Herod became an unexpected life event for Jesus and his troop and is somewhat like our walking through life, unafraid, unsuspecting, and surprised when something so heartbreaking as a death drops into our midst - totally out of context, totally unprepared, we are devastated with our losses. Is it possible to view these events of grief as interruptions, certainly not of immediate joy, but not as burdens fraught with anxiety toward what will come next, rather as we pray for God's presence in the midst of our mourning, we give thanks for the gift of life and love. It seems to me to be the only appropriate response to reflect our lost love and to give thanks for the days ahead for us! Does that make sense to you? I hope so.

Image via Wikipedia

Even one sparrow?

Image by jwinfred via Flickr

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
31:So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We had a small death in our backyard on Wednesday evening. I heard my spouse yell sharply - "RILEY!" .....and indeed our precious Westie, Riley, did drop the small baby sparrow that he had in his mouth but probably not prior to giving it an extra "squeeze" before the release. He is a dog after all bred as a hunter.......

The frightened, struggling sparrow was gently laid on a ledge and when I went out to inspect it, certain that I could verify the small creature was not to die but just frightened, it was making sound motions with its little beak but there were no sounds coming out. I suggested that we should place it in a nearby shaded flower urn because no matter what I wished for, the bird was dying and I couldn't bear that it was on a hard surface with no comfort around. Mercifully, as Steven picked up the little bird, it breathed its last. I choke on the lump in my throat as I tell you of this small innocent loss of a bird's life.

I know the lump of sorrow and mourning in my throat is real but I believe the lump is made up of more than this small bird's dying. I believe it may be due to the gruesome news coming from Tehran prefaced by the CNN News reporter warning "what we're about to see contains graphic images." Graphic indeed, an innocent girl's bloody and senseless dying caught on a video phone clip. The helpless bystanders, me via the news being one of them, screaming internally and externally, why, why, why - life is so precious, life is so short, why, why, why must this world hate, hate, hate? How do young persons have the nerve to take their lives in their hands for democracy's promise of freedom? Do they not know how precious and short their lives are? Do they believe they will be protected because they are on the "right" side of an issue?

Or maybe it's the news that another "troop" or two of ours - would that be a child or friend, a human living being, that "troop" that was just killed today or the innocent bystanders blown up by a fanatic seeking his right to die in the world, or maybe it's the newspaper's report of a 24 year old walking brazenly armed into a high school gymnasium and killing a former coach of his in cold blood. I cry out again to the only entity that will possibly hear and know my anguish - I ask God, why, why, why?

Why do I cry? It's all so logical to me, the answer does not have to be in clearly spoken English words, the logic being, that mankind has been given the freedom to run this world of ours and even though God could intervene at any time and in any place, the sparrow, the precious girl, the "troop," the coach in his class space, die because one of us is in charge. The lump in my throat is for all the needless death and suffering in this world and the part of me stuck inside my throat asking why, why, why? How do we escape the sorrow, the hurt, the anguish of innocents betrayed and slaughtered? I don't think we do - we may yet be personally alive and breathing, but for Jesus' sake we do not escape the responsibility of needless death and dying. It sticks in my throat, does it stick in yours?

Holiness - what and where is it?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

After a morning walk with Riley yesterday, I checked in over at Abbey of the Arts and found Christine's beautiful post; in it she asked the question - "what has revealed the holiness of this day to you?"

Usually a question from Christine, and she asks some good ones, deserves a bit of contemplative and reflective thought prior to my answering. These thoughts however popped right into my head.....

My walk with Riley this a.m. was cold, very cold, wind was biting and I needed a heavier jacket than the one I had worn. I knew the benefits of the exercise for him and for me but I wanted to turn around so many times, thought of short-cutting the track part of the walk and didn't, just kept putting one foot in front of the other and 40 minutes later we were back in our nice warm home with the walk only a memory.....until Christine's question.

Then I ask myself, "How has Lent been like this morning's cold walk?" Entering Lent, as an Episcopalian, is meaningful, a somewhat painless reminder of mortality with the imposition of ashes, and the somber invitation to enter into the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance, etc.

But, the walk, ah the journey through Lent. For me rest and recreation was on the menu at the time Lent began this year so there was time for reflection about how my journey should proceed. Some moderation in my health habits surrounding eating seems always in order, no real hope of increasing the exercise because I'm already a little nutty about that, a definite plan of worship, reading and study, along with the beginning stages of a little reflective 'zine to be published prior to next year's Lent - to be marketed to bloggers, friends, family, acquaintances, whomever would enjoy some hand-holding inspirational reading during their own Lenten journey. The plan solid - proceed!

Whoops, I forgot to wear the right coat, it was too cold, the planned walk was too long, what was I thinking - maybe a shortcut is in order, stay the path, yes, it's good for me but couldn't the sun cooperate with me a little - I mean it looked like snow again! Which walk - the dog or the God path?

I could go on but I think you get my point. The walk today for me with the dog AND with God are good things - they are sacred reminders of my place on God's path. It seems too long, too cold, can I go the extra steps, should I, would I, will I, am I? The "planned for" warm place at the end of the walk is in sight..............oh, I hope it doesn't snow on Palm Sunday!!!

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Souls - who has one?

With apologies to Riley and Andy, I encountered a cute little doggie this week on Maui who seemed, in these photos, to be contemplating his shadow......his soul? "Hey who are you, and why do you keep following me?"

"Hey, hey, stop movin' - I'm talkin' to you!"

Sweet animals we tame and call pets - they bring us joy, teach us patience, bring us tears and laughter, and give us unsurpassed love; lastly they wait and wait and wait until we decide we want them to pay attention to us! Now, don't you think a being of that nature has a soul? Or, o.k. it's a leap in Lent...........that pets in "their waiting for us" are a lot like God by our sides?

Think about it!

Blog Tag Interview

Last week I found a great Blog Tag Inteview over at Abbey of the Arts, decided to participate and thanks for Christine at The Abbey I was sent these great interview questions - so here goes!
1. What do Riley and Andy teach you about the spiritual life?
Riley and Andy (my beloved puppy dogs) give me great lessons for my spiritual life - non-conditional love and trust, the giving and the receiving of it. They believe in me and that I will feed and care for them, protect them against harm. They’re always thrilled to see me and assume I feel the same way about them. Heeding their examples in one’s spiritual practice could only serve to strengthen one’s relationship with God, Creator, and Advocate.

2. You seem deliriously joyful in your marriage, share some secrets for navigating life in common with a beloved one.
1. Choosing each other carefully was a hard job – truly a life long commitment which is on its first 25 years.
2. We spend time together.
3. We spend time apart.
4. We share and reflect together on #2 and #3. We believe that we don’t have to love the same things and be together all of the time but bringing our separate experiences, views, and insights back to each other is a lot of fun and keeps our interest in each other alive and well.
5. We try to give each other and our actions/habits/quirks the same respect that we would give those of a stranger. Being rude to each other is as unacceptable (or even more unacceptable) as is being rude to a stranger. This is a hard concept to abide by all of the time – daily life together can be too easily taken for granted; impatience or unrealistic expectations can creep in pretty and make a mess if one or both of us is tired, stressed or ill.
6. We try to use the same habits with each other as we did when dating – pleases, thank yous, helping with tasks, is just important 25 years into the relationship as it was when we were first dating.
7. We have dates – sometimes for lunch or dinner or a weekend or daytime excursion.
8. We remind each other constantly of how much we love each other and work at ways to show that love.
9. We share household tasks – religiously – laundry, cooking, dishwashing, yard work.
10.We share our faith – religiously – with each other.
Ten is enough☺
11. Whoops, one more, VERY IMPORTANT POINT – no mindreading i.e., if you loved me you’d know I didn’t want to do that or go there or for you to buy that or not point that out, oh, you know – NO MINDREADING!!!!

Hope you'll come back tomorrow to read my answers to the balance of Christine's questions.....and please feel free to share your own tip here about good habits you find for working successfully in shared relationships.

photo - SS - Beautiful Maui skies

Practice, practice

Well, I don't know if the other artists taking the January Art Journal challenge over at Misty Mawn's site are having as much fun as I am, but you'll only have to look at these "selfs" for another day or two. They are definitely a challenge and I can't believe I have the nerve to post them - but they're sketches - so just write in and say "practice makes perfect" or just smile and go over to Riley's site:) he always has something worthwhile to say!

I think if you compare yesterday's sketch to this one, you'll see I've lost a LOT of weight, my eyes are clearer, I have a new DO and my teeth definitely look much better......see what you can do for yourself in self-portraiture?

Blogiversary

MINDSIEVE,
Sometimes serious, sometimes not.

200 posts as of January 3, 2009.
Happy New Year to all.
Thanks for your support!


P.S. I think Riley has an anniversary also:)

She promised!

Hi ever'body,

My person is going away for a few days and I've pulled out the guilt card, I mean she was just away last weekend......so, with this latest trip comin' up, I've begged her to let me go back to my site. You can see in the picture that she is totally stumped on her site so I deserve to be writin' in the time that's she's obviously wastin'.

She promises, promised, is promising that I'll be back on my own site next week. See you there!!!!!!!

Luv,
RILEY
RFF

Photo - Courtesy CP

He is NOT a lapdog

That silly Andy - he's not been on a lap since he was 6 months old - at least that's what I'm told. Now, all of a sudden for some reason he's decided he should try lap sittin'. You can see from the expression on his face that once he got up there he was a lil' uncertain how he was goin' to get down!.....or, prob'ly he was just sayin' "I told you I could do it!" to me. I did chuckle under my breath. Oh, well, boys will be boys and oh, by the way - the bird's back - Flicker by name:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
RILEY (AND ANDY)


Photo - SS

I Met Lola:)

YEP, I met Lola last week at the Dog Park. Wow, she's a dish.....but a lil' "fast" for me. I mean fast, not "fast." She runs like a race horse 'n is off with ever' new guy that comes along. I mean I didn't mind the quick sniff 'n sweet kiss upon our intro but I noticed pretty quickly that she gave ever' single dog that quick sniff 'n sweet kiss. She's awful cute, but I dunno. This picture my person took was really the only time Lola sat still enough for a photo!

But, I really did like the dog park. Andy was so-so, could take it or leave it 'n didn't seem too unhappy when we actually did leave it! He's so shy but sort of sucked it up 'n was very brave. He met a lot 'a new friends but mostly he liked staying close to our persons while I ran and ran and ran. Andy and I really slept very well that night - we were pooped!

I do plan to see Lola again. As I said, she's some cute number but very young, I mean unlike me she's not even 2 years old yet - still a puppy.

I've been trying to keep my mind off of her but it can be so borin' around this house, inside anyway. While my persons were out today, I opened up my person's Bose Headphones - thought I'd listen to a lil' music but I couldn't get those darned things on my head. Then I decided to read somethin' but they hardly leave anything around to read anymore....an Oprah mag, or an occasional Christian Century. I mean reading the phonebook again 'n again - as far as literary worth, phonebooks seem a lil' dry and tasteless to me. Besides that I don't get much past the A's or B's when they come home and put the book back in the same place I fetched it from. I guess they think I want to move on to the C's or somethin'.

Gotta run - oh, btw, the most exciting thing in the backyard these days, besides the Flicker - we have some crunchy little grey mice around. Crunchy? Well, I sorta swallowed one sometime this week, anyway that's what my he person told her! My tummy was a lil' upset but wow I'd never eaten a mouse before! New taste - yum!

As always,

Riley
RFF


P.S. Please keep my friend, Tune, in your prayers. She's havin' a lil' surgery next week and we want that to be all it is - just a lil' surgery.

Identity Theft?

No I don' know the furry folk shown here - I received them from a friend with a warning about "identity theft" - I mean, what's identity theft? Do you know these guys?

Riley
RFF

Whatever Lola wants......

I have to share this fab letter I received from my new best friend - LOLA! Wow, you can see how cute she is from the picture and she's asked me for a date to the dogpark already - I'm a lucky dog!! RFF

Dear Riley,

Your hair looks so cute with that little curl to it! Don't worry about it.
You should see mine! lol

Oh, I guess I should tell you who I am. You know how it is with you
celebrities: we read about you and see your pictures, and we think of you
as friends already.

My name is Lola, and I am a dancer...just kidding, but it is a good song,
don't you think?

I'm new in the neighborhood and hoped I'd meet you at the St. Francis
blessing. It was a kick! I was so excited!

My people used to have a big dog named Seamus, and, of course, he was
perfect. He didn't bark or jump around or chew on things. (Sounds pretty
boring to me.) So, my people say I need to learn some manners. I try. I
do. At least when I think of it, unless there are some other dogs around
or new people to meet. Then it's really hard to remember.

Say, have you been to the dog park yet? It is so fun!!! I've met forty
dogs there, of all shapes and sizes, mostly bigger than I am, but I can
outrun them for sure. Want to have a play date some day? (Better make it
before a grooming day, my person says, at least if it's been raining.)

I'm sending you a little picture of me. It's not very sharp, but it'll
show you how I can move, and can I ever!

Bye for now.
Lola

And it's still raining.....

This weather is makin'me crazy - my bangs keep curlin' the wrong direction - I know it's probly my 'magination!

RILEY
RFF

It's been rainin' a lot......

I don' know, not gettin' my regular exercise - chasin' the squirrels, policin' the backyard for intruders, and rompin' with my neighborhood friend, Tweed - has taken away some of my focus - does it show?

RILEY
RFF

She went to Camp!

I've just found out through the doggie grapevine that beautiful Zega, pictured here, was allowed to attend Camp Cross this year 'n I was told "no dogs allowed!"

Now don' get me wrong.... I certainly don't deny my newfound acquaintance the joy of bein' loved by every woman who attended Women's Weekend last August. I just find it surprisin' that my person didn't even mention this beautiful dog to me!

Anyway, apparently she was quite a hit with the ladies, attended all of the sessions, the launch ride around the lake and she even sneaked in for mealtimes. Wow, now that's what I call a LUCKY DOG!

(I think I'll start plannin' my trip to CC right now:)

Yours truly,

Riley
RFF

Iphoto - Sunrise Sister