A multi-media account of my travels through life
It is with profound sadness that I report the death of my beautiful dog and beloved companion Tango. He was 13 years old and diagnosed in July 2019 with cognitive dysfunction — doggie dementia — followed just a few weeks later with the discovery of a fast growing cancer on the roof of his mouth. Continue reading “Tango’s Passing”
The odyssey is over. Tango and I are safely arrived in Franklin, NC, where we will quietly enjoy the summer. No road trips anticipated. 😀
We made a completely unexpected trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and met a family who I felt that I knew but had never met. I wrote about that in my blog, “On the Road — Memories and Magic.” But I also got to visit my nephew Michael and his family in Sun Valley, Idaho. What a beautiful family in a beautiful part of the U.S.
It is really, really fall up here in Western North Carolina. Tango is enjoying the cooler days and all the different smells. Life is good. ❧
I’m really grateful to those of you who follow my blog. It is an honor to me that you give some of your time to read my words or look at my images. I’m almost ashamed to admit I don’t follow too many bloggers but among those I do is Chris Condello’s: Green Thumbed Vagabond. Not every post but most of them. Chris presents a nice blend of poetry, gardening tips and life observations. And his personal life is interjected just enough so that you respect him all the more for accomplishing the production of so much beauty…a lesser man might have just said, “F” it.
Chris’s most recent post is called My Little Buddy Cooper. It’s about his dog, Cooper. Now, if you surf on Facebook at all you have seen your share of cute dogs but, trust me, Cooper is cute. He’s a Corgi. And he is presented in some wonderful images. You will just die for the one where he is running towards you with his tongue flying in the wind.
I wanted to share the wealth because that is part of blogging. Thanks Chris, keep up the good work.
Many of you know that I am a brand ambassador for Mary’s Medicinals. This photo of Tango makes me think he should be Chobani’s brand ambassador. ❧
Gertie was a rescue gerbil. I had gotten it in my head that I wanted a gerbil but shopping for one, as with most things, was a chore and I quickly tired of it. The sales associate at Petco seemed to sense my fatigue and wondered if I might be interested in a “slightly used” gerbil that had been left with them. I followed her to a back room where this pretty white gerbil was sequestered away, “had to be sure she wasn’t diseased,” the associate explained. The gerbil had been with them for ten days and was cleared from quarantine. I could have her for $4, including the cage. Well, I’m not much of a shopper but I do know a bargain.
Gertie was with me for almost three years and I loved that rodent. She settled right into life with Alice and I quickly learned she had style and panache. After she died I turned to other gerbils but none had the espirit that my Gertie had.
Amazing how we come to love critters … from dogs and cats to gerbils and a whole slew of others. It speaks well for Homo sapiens that we can develop this closeness, this appreciation for the vast diversity that has been given to us on this blue and white marble that we call Earth. We screw up a lot and are far from perfect but there are these moments of happiness brought on by simply opening our heart to others, human or otherwise. Remember, you take the love with you. ❧
Well, we made it! Tango and I completed one-half of our cross country adventure on Sunday when we arrived in Trinidad, California. We are enjoying the hospitality of our friends Bunny and Ed Subkis. This view of the Pacific Ocean is not far from their home. In the distance is Patrick’s Point.
The conference in Portland was really excellent. I made some new friends, got a chance to catch up with some friends from the past, and learned a great deal about the endocannabinoid system. This relatively new discovery–a receptor system in your body that mimics cannabis and is enhanced by its use–could revolutionize medicine. I’m not one for hyperbole but, honestly, the ongoing formal research (mainly international, in Spain and Israel) and the reports coming out of states that have legalized medical access are simply phenomenal. Cannabis is curing cancers, treating dementia, dramatically increasing the longevity of patients with ALS and, as most have heard, reducing seizures in young children.
How I wish our federal government would find the courage to embrace this exciting new knowledge. Is there hope? Perhaps. A news report states that federal drug agencies are ramping up the federal production of cannabis next year. Total production will expand from 21kg a year to 650kg! A sizable increase. Such a silly waste of money. I met plenty of growers last week who could provide the federal government with any strain of cannabis they could possibly want. There are none so blind as those who will not see. ❧
Tango and I walked the celery fields in Sarasota today. It is a vast open space that was once farm land and has been preserved because of its tremendous benefit to the bird populations. You may have guessed from the picture that Tango was really enjoying it. He did his happy dance several times. If there was any doubt of his happiness just look at this picture:
I’m dedicating this post to my cousin Margaret who just got her beloved Zoe back after six months absence. Here’s to happy dances on both coasts!❧
We had snow today, at least three inches. It started in the early morning and lasted all day with varying degrees of intensity. I was delighted since it was what I had stayed for–winter. Photographers want to record experiences and I wanted some pictures of winter. I’m not sure why. I hate the cold but, oddly, snow seems warm to me. Tango and I had a good walk in the early afternoon, up Potts Branch Road to Little Cove Rd. The snow was coming down steadily. It was quite lovely.
Tango had never seen snow and he thought it was …well, who the heck knows what he thought? He seemed to enjoy it. I could tell he was confused about smells. He would nuzzle his nose deep into the snow, trying to follow a scent. I worried a few times that he would topple over into one of the many creeks that was along our walk but he is too clever for that. In the end, as you can see, he was happy and, like me, enjoying the experience. ❧
It became a fine spring day here in Franklin, NC on the 19th of January. The temperatures topped out in the mid-50s and, if you chose your position properly, the wind was not a problem. These two canines–Sweet Pea and Murphy–were clearly enjoying the day on Boni’s deck. Poor Murphy is an old man. He can no longer navigate the stairs to go and “do his business” in the yard so he pees on the deck and Boni patiently cleans up after him. We should all hope for this when we are old–a warm place in the sun and someone to lovingly clean up after us. ❧
Alice's WanderLand 