Rocky and Tiger Welcomed Me Home from Wildacres Retreat

Rocky and Tiger were happy to see me when I came home from my week at Wildacres Retreat. I listened to Marley and Me on CD on the way home and enjoyed the antics of the endearing dog, Marley.
I read one night at Wildacres when all the artists and writers gathered in the lobby of the main lodge. I also had the opportunity to tell them about my poetry chapbook coming out in the fall. I think the idea of writers and artists of all kinds coming together for a week, not to take classes, but to have the time to work on projects of their choosing is a fantastic idea. Nothing is structured but mealtimes. It was just what I needed I think, and I've come home with some priorities set so I hope I can better focus on what I should be doing at this time. Although I was told by a woman today it took her a year to straighten out her thinking after she lost her husband.
I was able to do some re-writing and accomplished one piece that absolutely transported me back in time. For three hours I left this time period and regressed to 1968 where my memories overcame my present situation and I completely forgot where I was. How strange to suddenly come back to September 2009, look around and for a minute not know where I was.

I'd like to be able to write like that every day for the next year and maybe by then I could better face the present. I do have some wonderful things to write about. Now here at home, I must discipline myself to do that.

Old dogs and watermelon wine

This sweet thing is Misty, my sister's 14 year old cocker spaniel. Like a ninety year old person, Misty doesn't see very well and can't hear. She does pretty well at her house, but recently when she went through her pet door, she headed for the ramp built especially for her so she could go outside to potty.
She missed the ramp and stepped instead into a narrow opening between the ramp and the side of the house. The poor baby was trapped. No one knew she was there until her "daddy" missed her and went to find her. She seems to be fine now, but has trouble with climbing steps. Here she sleeps in Rocky's bed. She has always preferred his bed to any other place. And our sweet love just lets her sleep there.
When our dogs get this old, we know they can go at any time and we try to be prepared. Those of us who feel our pets are family members and we treat them as such, grieve hard when we lose them.
Today while going through a closet, I came across a bag with a stuffed dog toy, a pink turtle. My heart hurt for a moment. This was Kodi's toy. Kodi was our 13 year old Samoyd. He has been gone ten years now. Still, the sight of the pink turtle that he enjoyed mouthing, brought a moment of melancholy and sadness.
I thought about the stories I can write about my life with Kodi. Maybe, like the author of Marley and Me, I could write a book about all the pets I've loved and lost. And while telling those stories, I will tell about my life and the people who have touched my life.