shastagr18 Offline

shastagr18: Not much time for chatting the last few weeks … family emergency situation on top of having my new baby "Banjo" in the house for the last 12 days …. its been a little tough just taking care of the "baby" but could not have foreseen the family crisis that followed soon after his arrival. Some of my wire friends might be concerned about my "family emergency/crisis" .. Something so serious and personal that I don't feel like sharing details here, but if you are my "wirefriend" please know that no one is dead or even bleeding (anymore lol).

I was assaulted twice in three days by two different perpetrators in my own home...… long long story and I did not make it out unharmed; Two broken fingers, dislocated thumb, reinjury of my recent surgical rehab on my knee, fractured ankle, few knots on head, scrapes and bruises …. but even I AM fine lol. …. Wearing the Armor of God !! Nothing on this Earth can harm me even in my death. I know God has my back in this life and the next.

Don't get me wrong, I have been afraid for my life twice in less than a week but Knowing that God is always with me has been my only feeling of salvation. I am learning to let God handle my fears: Nothing I can do to control what happens, even when it happens to me.

Meanwhile, Banjo is still PERFECT! and already soooooo smart. He already knows at least a dozen words, and has a great sit, down, and wait.... He knows "kisses" already and "pottyondapad" for mama... already walking on leash at a heel position. I know I am biased …. but not bad work for a ten 1/2 week old puppy or the poor worn out woman who now calls herself "banjos mama"

Thank you for reading … really needed all that out of my mind and thought passing it on in writing might help. If you are a Christian, please pray for me and my family that we can make it past this horrible time and bask in the sunshine watching a herd of unicorns play in the fields of marshmallows. God Bless

shastagr18: Meet my new friend, "Banjo"

shastagr18: In Memoriam of "Gabby Lou" 6/21/2016 - 4/27/2020

Almost four years ago I went searching for a playmate for Brodee Wayne, a King Shepherd who weighed in at 158 pounds by adulthood. Massive but so gentle.
Brodee needed a friend and my sister had found a Husky breeder in a nearby town. I looked at their website and the babies were all too adorable. When we got there, I found the breeder to be a bit sketchy. Generally speaking, a reputable breeder will offer you a chance to see or meet at least one of the parent dogs. She told me that was not possible. She knew I had asked only about girl puppies and in her arms was a laundry basket full of five baby girl Huskies. She told me that she had just bathed them. I do not know what she "washed" these baby puppies with but it stunk like lye or something. My first instinct was to take the basket from her and RUN! She wasn't the nicest lady. I could tell she was kinda snappy and maybe armed lol. So I sat on her porch with this basket of puppies and one stood up pretty, tail wagging. She waited for me to pick her up before she got so excited and peed on me, while her sisters climbed on to of each other to get my affection. It is hillbilly country and the woman had adequate food and water for the other pups. I wanted to report her but as long as they have access to food, water, and shelter, there is nothing animal rescue could do. We drove away and I said a little prayer for Gabby's sisters.

She has been an awesome dog! We bonded over training and she grew to be a very well behaved adult. However, she never grew to be as big as the "breed standard" but I did not care. To me, she was perfect, all 40 pounds of her. She was so full of life and vocal. She would sing for me. She got to take a lot of trips in the car with me. We would go to visit the VA Hospital patients. Everyone their were just so drawn to her; such a people magnet. She was so gentle and not skittish at all about the walkers, wheelchairs, and IV stands. Going with her to meet patients and make them smile warms my heart and literally feeds my soul.

Brodee Wayne passed almost two years ago now. Losing him was hard for me and Gabby. She searched for him for days afterwards. Gabby's death yesterday was so unexpected. I am so very sad and have been crying all day. She was so young, not even four years old and poof. She was gone

Gabby and my sister's dog Gus, a much bigger dog, has been Gabby's playmate for almost two years. The always played so hard outside in the yard. Gus is a big personality and about as dainty as a bull in a china shop. Three weeks ago, Gabby came in limping on her rear leg. I thought that once again, Gus was playing too rough and she got hurt. Usually just a few days of resting up is enough to heal her up enough to go right back to rough playing with Gus. This time it did not get better. What started as a tiny limp began to swell and swell. So I took her to the vet. The veterinarian took some x-rays and told me that it was not broken but that there was a suspicious "fog" on her hip joint. He gave me medications and told me to bring her back in a month. She was getting better for a little while but the swelling continued and a few days later, it was twice the size. I called the veterinarian and he told me to bring her in. New x-rays showed that poor Gabby's leg was now broken in three places. He said that it was a very aggressive form of cancer. What was a shadow on her hip three weeks ago, had turned into cancer that had already began eating away her bones in that leg. He also told me that this kind of cancer is very fast moving and is almost always metastatic. the x-rays also showed over a dozen more tumors in her lungs and other legs that had not been there just three weeks ago. He told me that she was in horrible pain. She whined in the night for the last few nights. Just taking her leg would not have helped, her body was just riddled with this awful disease.

Her passing was very peaceful. I had a chance to hold her and whisper in her ear, telling her how much she has meant to me. I cried like a little girl. When I took her to the vet yesterday.... never dreamed that I would have to go back home alone . My sadness is intense and she will never be forgotten. She was indeed a special soul.
RIP baby girl

shastagr18: I have been on wire for only a short time and I enjoy the 50s chat room very much.... interesting people and some really nice folks there. I am on day 48 of corona shelter in place so I found a little time to explore wire outside of the chat room. I had not realized that there was more to wire than just chat. While I will not be writing blogs about chatrooms I might use the forum for some of my musings. I do have concern that wire might steal an artistic license from me. Not to toot my own horn but I have to been known to have an interesting storytelling talent every now and again and seems that ALL i type becomes property of Wire ?

shastagr18 to Bates from Gates NY: but what ? no parrot on your shoulder ?

shastagr18 to Bates from Gates NY: i kind of like the pirate look …. you wear it well my friend

shastagr18: my Gabby dog