Wonder of the World - 4

Truffle, my miniature schnauzer wonder of the world

I'm an animal lover.  I'm crazy about dogs.  In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't enamored with all canines. 

I've had all sorts of animals as pets -- it started simply enough as a small child as a puppy beagle (Snoopy) and I tumbled and grew up together.  Then I had an assortment of rabbits and fish.  Finally Mom gave in to Dad and I and we brought home my little brother -- an all black Cocker Spaniel named Mr.  I cried on him, played endlessly with him, he got me through high school and more, Mr. was a wonderful dog.

As an adult, I've had llamas, goats, chickens, more dogs, fish, turtles, cats, rabbits, and perhaps another here and there.  Some are just pets that I enjoy, but others I've had incredible and rather uncanny relationships with.

In some traditions animals are understood to bring or represent certain divine powers.  There are those who believe that a relationship with a chosen animal provides a powerful connection to a source greater than one without said animal or pet.

 I'm blessed to say they I have experienced that holy connection on several occasions.  I'm not particularly a cat person, but I had an almost human relationship with a mama barn cat in the past.  She would nap with me and a chicken outside on the hammock, and she even told me where to find an injured animal.  She and I had a relationship that filled me with wonder.

There are so many animals that delight me.  Giraffes are a particular favorite, as I love feeding them and having that 18 inch black tongue wrap around my hand in search of a biscuit.  Dolphins are common favorites and I had a chance to swim with them and be mesmerized by their beauty.  I adored the baby goats who made their nursery on our back porch--they made me giggle as they sprang straight up in the air.  Animals are a gift to amaze us.  Animals are to be treasured and respected.

My two year old miniature schnauzer,  Truffle is that animal with whom I have a strong bond presently.  She and I spend every day together.  It amazes me how loving and loyal she is, how patient and tolerant she is.  Some day I should try to count how many times she makes me smile and laugh.  Truffle provides me with a sense of calm in the midst of each day.  If she isn't within reach, I stopped what I'm doing and search for her.

My fourth Wonder of the World is the relationship we are privileged to have with the four legged beings surrounding us. 

I Could Entertain Royalty

Me with a turtle.

Sometimes I wonder if a camera crew is following me around for good blooper material or maybe a writer for a situation comedy show. I do some of the stupidest and funniest things -- all by accident. I don't mind playing the fool occasionally, after all it was the jesters who came in and lifted the spirits of the kings and queens of yesteryear.  But, there's just got to be a limit.


We were camping over the weekend at the Drake Country Fairgrounds as we attended the 50th Annual Ohio Gourd Show -- tomorrow's entry will cover some of that adventure.  After a stop at the bathroom, I walked through the vendor's areas, past the outside show area, just around the gazebo where people were eating, all across the fairground to the other end of the camping facility.  I there greeting my husband, petted the two dogs and went inside our little camper. Once inside I flung myself onto the bed, ready for a rest.  Dave came in behind me and with a chuckle, removed the toilet paper tail I'd been showing off.  I thought they did that stuff only on comedy's.  Yes, this is my comedy.  You laugh or you cry and oftentimes you have to make that choice on a daily basis.


Once while I was in school, I was caught doing a row of cartwheels down a main hallway.  I came up and with a jolt stopped starring nose to nose with one of my favorite, albeit intimidating professors.  This was a man of impeccable manners and grooming.  Here was an example to emulate.  Without even a hint of a smile, but a barely perceptible twinkle in his eye, he told me that buffoons were needed in our line of work.  I do wish he'd picked a kinder word, but the idea, I decided, was a compliment.  The jester, the one who laughs and can make others laugh, is a much needed ability.

My mom!

Last July my mother and I went skydiving. My 73 year old mom, full of life and adventure, had just retired, and has been tackling all sorts of things she's wanted to do.  She is an amazing woman.  It's an awkward thing, watching your mom jump out of an airplane and gently fall to the earth. I made my jump after hers.  First my shoe got caught on the way out and we just hung there for an eternity.  The rest went well and I counted us lucky to be in one piece and feeling only little pain as a result of the ordeal.

About two weeks later, I was tidying up in the kitchen.  I lost my balance and for each of the three times I almost caught myself -- I heard a bone snap.  My x-rays look ghoulish as nine screws and a plate were added to assist in the healing and stability of my ankle. It still hurts and I may have trouble with the darned thing forever -- all for cleaning my kitchen.  Skydiving is safe, but cleaning the house is evidently quite dangerous and painful.

Perhaps my favorite foolish story of mine is when I took in a cat to be spayed.  The mama cat had recently given birth to a litter and we decided to keep the last two kittens. She was taken in for surgery and would have no more kittens.  One of the girls looked like a twin of her mother.  When the time came to take the kitten in to be spayed, I had a bit of a time catching her as she was a barn cat going through a ornery period.  I finally captured her and placed her in a crate to be taken to the vet the next morning.  Mid morning I received a call from the veterinary office.  They had anaesthetised the kitten, shaved her and at that point, realised it was the mama cat who was already spayed.  I laughed uproariously.

I'm afraid I have to admit that I do this stuff all the time.  Most of the time I can laugh at myself with utter abandon.  When I can't, I know I need to take a step back and regroup.  Laughter is one of the main ingredients of life.  I dare not think of life without that simple joy.  I love to laugh -- even if it's just at myself.