Puppy Size

This is one of the neatest stories I've ever read. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end!!!!

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least 5 times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked. "Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for." "I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in flustration.

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed. "You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," dad finally said in flustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said.

"No, not size.............the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said.

"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends in the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.

Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.

Take the time to stop and listen, you will be surprised at what you hear.

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that ake our breath away."

Note: This story was sent to me by Danny, my best friend. It has so much meaning. In today's world we often forget to stop and listen.

Living in the Country

One of my dreams has been to live in the country. I'm just a country girl at heart. Recently Rich and I purchased a mobile home in the foothills of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. It is so quiet and peaceful. The other night Rich and I was sitting on the porch with the light out watching all the stars. We heard some rustling in the grass upon the hillside behind our home. Rich shined the flashlight and we saw the most beautiful deer. I just don't understand how anyone could hunt and kill such a beautiful animal. We haven't seen them but we have heard coyotes and wild turkeys. We also was told that there is bear and cougars in the area.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Today Dad is 73 years young. I say that because I have a hard time keeping up with him. I never know if he will be home, out fishing, setup at flea marts, gone crabbing, or visiting the family. It's a good thing that cell phones were invented or I would never know where to find him.

Since I have to work today........I went yesterday and celebrated with Dad. At times I never know what to get him for his birthday. When that happens.........I get him Goodies. He loves black jelly beans, Brach's coconut squares, Fiddle Faddle and cashews.

The photo above is Dad and his companion, Mae. They both love to buy and sell at flea marts. They sell beautiful Queen size blankets, windchimes, knives, tools and lots of misc.

Pet Peeves

Pet Peeves!!!!!!!!!!

We all have Pet Peeves........some more than others..........some less than others.

One of my all-time Pet Peeves is Grocery Baggers.........putting non-food and food items in the same plastic or paper bag.

Whatever happened to plain ole' COMMON SENSE when it comes to bagging groceries.

Today I went shopping for a few items. The nightmare of grocery bagging started off with the first 2 items the clerk pushed down to the young lady bagging..........a pint of cottage cheese and a container of laundry booster. Yep, you guessed it!!!!!!!! She threw them into the same bag. I reached over and removed the cottage cheese and politely told her that I would prefer to bag my own groceries............Thank You!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, you guessed it!! She coped a attitude and asked me what she did wrong. I told her that I didn't like non-food and food items in the same bag together. She looked at me with the "Well, Duh!!!!!!!!" and went over to the next checkstand and proceeeded start putting whatever she grabbed into the bags to fill them.

After paying and bagging my groceries...........I go out to the pickup where hubby is standing and smoking. He tells me............"Oh, I see from the look on your face that they didn't bag your groceries the way you like again." I told Rich that I should start my own business.........Training Grocery Baggers.

Well, I better get off my soapbox and get busy scrapping.

Danny and The Wall

Danny would visit The Wall every time it came to Southern Oregon. He always went to the same panel and would sit or stand in silence for a long time. He never talked about why he always went to that panel. He never said if it was a friend's or a family member's name engraved on The Wall.

He sat or stood there.....what was going through his mind? Was he remembering good times or the bad times that would haunt him the rest of his life? We will never know what Danny's thoughts or memories were when he sat or stood there in front of The Wall.

Danny Dean Gairson died at the age of 55 on December 26, 2004 of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Desease). There is a good chance that Danny's ALS was caused by being exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam while serving his country.

Danny's name will not be engraved on The Wall.....but he too was a casualty of the Vietnam War.

Author's Note: Danny was my best friend.