An Encountering with Kindred Spirits

Some time ago I promised ter-o-fla to write a post in answer to her comment on my blog: Life Story of a Duck.

This was the comment that she wrote there.

“Just recently my Mom mentioned talking to a stranger about their experiences with their dogs - this man had a young bouvier, the type of dog my family had when I was young - and it was very nice for my parents to talk to the man about the dogs; what they do, how they act, etc. It brought back lovely memories, but also the sadness because - of course - they are all not here anymore. (at least not here in the same form)”.

I told her that it was a coincidence that also I had a conversation with an old lady about animals and that I could almost compare this conversation with her story, it even ended in a friendship.

Well then – her follows my story.

A few months after Pipke had died I was waiting at a railway crossing together with a 77 years old lady accompanied by a greyhound.

At that very moment the alarm bell started to ring and just thereafter the barriers went down.

From the moment that the bell began to ring I noticed that the greyhound began to shiver very heavy. This really wasn't normal behavior, I had seldom seen a dog so afraid. The lady had to reassure the dog, she kept him close to her and gave him a cuddle. After a while he was more at ease. I thought: this dog must have experienced something very bad. So – I asked the lady if the dog was perhaps a rescued Greyhound, and yes I was right. She had adopted him one and a half year ago. He came from Spain where they really mistreat these animals. She told me that he was still afraid of the bell, probably he had heard this sound many times during the greyhound races. It must bring up nasty memories to him.

She also told me that she was a volunteer worker for a Charity Cause for Greyhounds.

After the barriers went open we walked further and we chatted for a while. I said I admired her commitment and that it was good that there are still people like her. She described the situation when he arrived at her home after being rescued. He was frightened of everything, he trusted no one. It took a long while before he could overcome his fears. Now he trusted her completely. He was now her best mate, the sunshine in her life. Every day she walked with him at least one hour. It was good for them both, it kept them both in form.

After a while we said goodbye to each other and while she went away she waved at me and said: hope to see you again!

Only a few days later, I met them both again, but this time at an other spot. “What a coincidence” we both said.

Again we chatted for a while and she asked me where I lived. She could speak so full of love and warmth about animals. They were the purpose in her life since she became a widow. I told her nothing about Pipke, I wasn't yet in the mood because I had still too much grief. After having a pleasant chat we said goodbye and as the time before we hoped to see each other again.

Then one week later I saw them both again – but this time together with an other old lady accompanied by a smaller dog.

This time it was at a whole different area. It was actually on a middle path between two parts of the village on an uncultivated land. She told her friend: “this is the lady where I spoke about”. And of course – you probably can guess – again there followed a conversation about pets. Her friend told me that her dog was also a rescued dog. She had adopted him after her previous dog had died. She had found him in an animal shelter.

He was mistreated, skin and bones, and he had a skin disease. She nursed him and it had taken almost half a year after he was cured. It was a cute little critter, a kind of everything: a mongrel. Very at ease he lay there waiting on the grass while the greyhound sat on his bump observing everything.

Then the lady with the greyhound said: "I'm so happy that I have him. You must know -- I became a widow two years ago. Two months later my previous dog also died and I must tell you, although I loved my husband very much, I had more sorrow when my dog died than when my husband died. The love you get from an animal is so very very different, it's unconditional love, they take you as you are. That's something you can't always say about humans. Actually the love that you get from an animal is the best that can happen to you".

The lady with the mongrel fully agreed. She also was a widow, they both spend much time together now. They walked the dogs together as much as they could.

Then I told them that also I had lost a pet not so long ago and that I was still sad.

They asked me which kind of pet It was and they were very surprised to hear that it was a duck. They asked me a thousand questions. I had to tell Pipke's story. They wanted to know everything about her and when I told them that she was a white crested duck they asked me if I had a picture of her. So – I showed them two pictures of Pipke which I always carry in my wallet. (One with Pipke on my arm under the Rowan tree, and one of her, laying on my breast one day before she died.)

They were very touched by her. I told them that we have many images of her and that they evoke lovely memories, but also much sadness because at the end we had to put her to sleep.

At that moment, while I was looking at Pipke's pictures I got tears in my eyes and they both tried to comfort me. They embraced me and gave me a big hug, it really gave me a warm feeling. They both had also experienced the loss of their beloved pets. They knew how it felt, and the lady with the greyhound said: "though the bond between you and your pet is very valuable, the importance of its loss may not always be understood by other people. I've experienced it. The difference lies in the value that is placed on your pet by your family and by society as a whole and for me my dog was the most precious".

They understood that Pipke was very important and dear to me. They both felt for me.

Meanwhile the time had flown by, we even didn't realize that we stood there more than one hour talking about our beloved pets. It really felt good to have met kindred spirits and that I could share Pipke's story with them.

Now it was time to go, and we embraced each other once more. We waved at each other and said one more time: hope we meet again!

When I looked around I watched them for a while. I saw them walking on with a smooth step, while the dogs frolicked cheerful up and down. This was such a warm and lovely scene, you could see that they “all” were very lucky with each other.

In this case the dog whisperer Cesar Millan would say: they are a happy well balanced pack.

Now it has been a while since I have seen one of them and I wonder how they are doing right now.

My thought are with them and their beloved pets, they really radiated warmth and love.

I hope I will meet those two lovely old ladies and their lucky dogs once again.

I will not forget their warmth and kindness. The small gesture of the hug meant a lot for me, more than they will ever know.

I'm gratefull for it.

PS: ter-o-fla, my family also had a bouvier when I was young. On this post you can see me together with him.

The End of Men

"Machos have had their best time"!

Man has been the dominant sex since, well, the dawn of mankind. But for the first time in human history, that is changing—and with shocking speed. These are the first sentences of an article in my weekly magazine of September 7.

It quotes an article that appeared last July in The Atlantic Magazine.

This subject only shows how the world has evolved since I was a young girl.

Now mothers say: We want a girl!.

These mothers look at their lives and think their daughters will have a bright future their mother and *grandmother didn’t have, brighter than their sons, even, so why wouldn’t they choose a girl?”

What a privilege those girls have. I really envy them a little.

They are the lucky ones. What a great future they have, I wish them all success!

That they may conquer their place in society!

I would say -- go for it girls!

PS: *I'm also a grandmother.

If you might be interested this is the original article in The Atlantic Magazine.

I still want to add: I had written this post in draft before I'd read Jeannie's exceptional beautiful story.

Actually hindsight seen I find this post is a complement to her story.

It shows what previous brave generations of women have achieved with their battle for the equality between men and women.

Probably the courageous old lady in Jeannie's story wasn't in the possibility to study when she was young.

Now her dream came true!

It's only so unfortunately that she couldn't enjoy it long.

Memorial

Today

one year ago it was the saddest day of our life.

That day we lost Pipke.

In loving memory I dedicate this poem to her

You came into our lives for much too short time


a time we wouldn't trade not even for a million dime


Then before we knew it the years have flown by


and then all of the sudden we had to say good-bye


It was exact one year ago that we had to say our good-bye


I then held on to you very tight as you closed your eyes


Your spirit has flown home on the wings of a dove


into God's loving arm's; in heaven above



Over the days we've shed many tears


but the memories we have will live on for years


We feel your presence and we know that you're near


you're keeping us safe and calming our fear



We think about memories from years past


when you were young and strong, and could run so fast


we remember all the great times that we all had


how you always made us happy never made us mad



They were the best and happiest years we had


we'll always look back on them and never be sad


We look forward to the time we'll be together again


and we thank the Lord for such a great friend



Now you run and play up in Heaven above


cradled in God's arms covered with his love


Playing by the Bridge waiting for the day


we come down thru the meadow to the bridge to stay



The love that you showed us we'll never forget


because to us you're one very special pet


You're like a star in the dark of night


always watching over us with the Lord's light



So now we take time to remember you most beloved friend


you will always be with us even to the end


We'll always remember you the way you were


one lovable huggable soft pile of feathers. 



Pipke

May 25, 1995 – September 14, 2009

I'm lost without you sweety

Hugs
click on hugs to watch youtube film

Your

Oma

Poem written by John Quealy and addapted by Fran

PS: See also

My Box with Keepsakes

I came on the idea for this post after reading an article in my favorite weekly magazine. It brings me back in time because once I had a memory box.

It wasn't a luxury box but rather a very ordinary cardboard box.

Anyhow: The article that I mentioned above went about the film “*To kill a mockingbird”

This year this film became fifty years old and for me it's still one of the best films I have ever seen.

It's superb on all counts. It's a great adaptation of *this memorable novel written by (probably you will all know this) the American writer Harper Lee. She's an Alabama author, she only wrote one book – and it was a good one.

What has this to do with my memory box you shall say: well the opening scene of this film starts with a memory box, almost one like I had, although mine was a little larger.

This particular scene is still stuck to my memory. I love the sound of the tikking clock, the cheerful humming of Scout, and the rolling and bouncing of the marbles -- it's all so simple and oh so sensitive. The combination of the images and the music are so touching and so beautiful chosen, for me this scene is a real masterpiece. After so many years -- and seeing it severall times over again -- it still gives me goosebumps when I look at it.

Therefore I would like to show you this openings scene

Now back to the main topic

What was sitting in my box with keepsakes!

I was born in the middle of World War 2, so I had not much when I was a small child but I cherished the little things I had.

Unfortunately but not much that was sitting in that box has survived all those years, just some drawings that I made and one of my first books: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood (in Dutch: Roodkapje), my first Communion church book (I was raised catholic) with within it a little handkerchief edged with lace (it was a present for this celebration) and a few communion cards.

Once there was a little Jesus image glued on my prayer book but as you can see my little sister had torn it off, she had also scribbled with a pencil on my story book.

Here you see me with my prayer book, wrapped in the little handkerchief in my hands.

This picture is now 61 years old!

Then at least: the most important object, my doll. I called her: Hilda.

She's almost 60 years old now. My aunt made this doll for me after her little daughter Hilda (she was her only daughter) died of leukemia. She became only 8 years old. If you see pictures of Hilda she looks almost like the doll. She also had very blond short hair that curled outside, she seemed to be made of porcelain. She was such a pretty girl.

My doll is made entirely of cotton fabric and is stuffed with kapok inside, only the head was bought. One thing is regrettable but actually it didn't bother me: she can't bend her legs and arms so she can't sit. But despite this shortcomings for me she was perfect. My aunt also made her cloths.

Look how proud I was at my Hilda.

In this Christmas tree you can see the **Christmas balls and stars which we had made ourselves.:):)

Now you can see that the time has gnawed at the fabric, it starts to fall apart at some places.

You can also see that her cheeks are worn off because I cuddled her so much!

I will cherish her for the rest of my days.

I couldn't show you much, but these items have a great sentimental value for me.

When I look back on it, time has flown by, much much too fast!

One thing I know for sure: the time hasn't gnawed on

"To Kill a Mockingbird".

It will remain intact for always.

It's easy to enjoy and hard to forget.

PS: **On this post I discribed how and of what we made them.

Very special stuf!:):)

Justice is Done!

In case you didn't know this already.

Dog abuser denied parole as pit bull Louis Vuitton attends hearing.

Not to comprehend that someone can be so cruel.

This man really deserves this sentence.

That this may be a warning to future abusers!

A Memorable Image

Exact one year ago – at this very hour – this picture was taken.

This was at the day that Pipke began to deteriorate very fast.

This would become her very last fight.

I'm going through a tough time!

To a Dear Blogger Friend

I hope that you will discover this post, it's intended for you!

And who are you?

Well – in the interest of your privacy – I will not name names. I won't even use the capital of your name, but when I tell you that you've sent me first a mail on January 19 this year – and thereafter we've both exchanged emails – and that your last mail dates from May the 6^th – than you know to whom I dedicate this post.

Yes – to you dear friend!

I didn't want to mail you again because I didn't want to give you the impression that I'm stalking you, that's not at all the case.

No – I'm worried – because it has been a while since I've heard from you.

In your last mail you've told me that you have health problems.

I've often thought of you and now I wonder: how are you doing right now?

I really do hope that your health has improved and that you are feeling better.

I don't know if (but I hope that) you are still following my blogs – so if this is the case then I hope you enjoy Pipke's life story.

You once asked me: “Are we two of a kind with the love of our dear animal friends”.

I'm really convinced of it dear friend.

It's now ten months ago since your beloved pet died.

I really do hope you've got over the loss .

I know and experience that it isn't easy – but let us both remember the happy times we shared with them. Let us both cherish their memory and so let them live on.

I also hope your two new pets are doing well!

If I'm correct then they now must be nine months old.

Actually, now that I've known Pipke, I know what a treat some people who never experience the love of an animal are missing. Animals can be some of the best friends a person could ever have.

I hope your new best friends will bring much joy into your life!

If you aren't feeling better yet than I hope that this can help a little!

Especially for you.

Please – don't feel obligated to answer!

No, I haven't written this post with this intention.

Just let me hear from you “if" you feel the need, whenever, or when you feel the time is ripe for it.

I just wanted to encourage you and give you some support.

Know that – far away – there's someone thinking of you!

I hope that I've succeeded to cheer you up a little.

I still wish you the very best!

Warm hugs

Fran

I really do hope that you've read this!

PS: to my other readers and followers.

If you don't feel good – then of course – this message is also intended to you.

If you're already feeling good – then I'm glad for you!:)

Hugs to you all.