I recently watched a television presentation of Barbara Walters interviewing  the 10 most outstanding people of 2010 and one of them was Betty White, who I have always enjoyed in her many roles over the years and now admire even more for living life to the fullest at I believe? the ripe old age of  "going on 90" (as I am "going on" 76 this "could" have something to do with my interest in watching her live her life vibrantly, at any age, as this is my mentality, that age should not factor into or hinder one's  living life in adventure and passionately, until  we "let go"?).  Barbara mentioned Betty's intense animal advocacy endeavors and asked her, "is it true, Betty, that you like animals better than people?" to which Betty quickly replied, "oh yes, but I like people too!"  My sentiments exactly if I were to express my true feelings for my furry friends (my two and everyone else's; some people pat little children on the head? I pet every dog I meet walking (literally) through life).

   

Then my Dutch friend, Frieda, an animal lover herself, who just lost her "old girl," with the knowledge that death is imminent for my Jorgee, as her days are numbered, (she will be 15 year of age in May)  presented me with the gift of a wonderful book to read.  Yes, I know the facts, but find it difficult to accept, and have often expressed my sentiments to Frieda.  The book is entitled, "The Art of Driving in the Rain" and is written from a dog's perspective about his life with his people family and when and how eventually, after telling his story, he "lets go."   This book, although of course a novel, helps give credence to my belief system (when others say to me, as they do from time to time, Joan, she/they do not understand, they are JUST dogs!) that our pets do indeed understand more than we ever believed they could/do when we speak to them in people language, in varying grades of intensity, and they look at us like they totally "get it."

As I have written above, Jorgee is my "old girl," my soul mate, (a Jack Russell), that I rescued from a shelter in 2001 and, for us, it was instant "love at first sight").  But, there is another little loved creature in my home, Luna Rae, a 20 month old Italian Greyhound who, I might add, keeps both Jorgee and I hopping (I dare you to attempt to wrap Christmas presents in my house with Luna Rae in the room, and I am not sure how many times I rescued my granddaughter's furry slippers until I finally put them in a box and wrapped them!).  From two months old when she came to live with us she has slept very cozily in the downstairs bathroom in her little bed (I felt Jorgee should retain her special privilege of sleeping in my bed with me) and, for 18 months, she has gone to bed, and never uttered a sound until Jorgee and I came downstairs in the morning.  Well, all that changed three nights ago, when we had a terrible rain STORM which woke me up often during the night.  At 4 a.m., when it sounded like the roof would be blown off, I awoke, and heard Luna Rae noisily clambering up the three stairs into the kitchen.   Then I heard "squeak, squeak, squeak,"  which was the swinging door to the dining room being pushed by a little nose; then the pitter patter of little feet (excuse me, I mean "paws") climbing up the eight or nine stairs to my bedroom, and  two little front paws up on the bed.  I invited Luna Rae to climb in and  under the covers she went and if she licked my face for five minutes I am sure it was a half hour,  in total gratitude.  The next night I put her to bed per usual and she slept until 7 a.m. when she came upstairs again and climbed in.  But the last two nights, it is only five minutes until the little nose pushes open the dining room door and comes upstairs to sleep with "mommy" and Jorgee.  It has become apparent that this Christmas Luna Rae's most cherished Christmas gift. In the midst of her new little toys, is a wonderful new place to spend her nights, in my bed, the three of us snuggled under my down comforter.  This is my 2010 Christmas story and may I close by wishing, for all of you, a very Merry Christmas, spent in peace with family and friends, including all the "furry babies" in our world.

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May your Christmas be filled with joy! Our 2011 glows with  hope and promise..... my wish for everyone is a lasting peace, hope that guides, and love that lives always in the heart ♥