BEST FRIENDS

[Sparkle]

No, not us, even though we are...Best Friends the famous Animal Shelter. My son, his wife and I went to visit it yesterday. I had always said I would never go until I could come out with an animal. However it wasn't as traumatising as I thought. You watch a video first, then go on a Shuttle ride for 1-1/2 hours. At first I thought we weren't going to see any animals, as we passed the Rabbit House and the Bird House, but then we stopped at the Elderly Cats. This one is called Boots. It's back legs are paralysed and it walks on its front feet dragging its back half. It's little paws were getting raw so they put little baby socks on them. It climbed up onto this bed by itself and purred when we petted it.



This cat had one single tooth, another cat I petted grabbed my hand and bit me....not a single tooth in its head, I got gummed.


We also went visited some dogs, again they were elderly, they don't want all those disease prone visiters petting the puppies. No photos, they weren't very interesting. We did drive back on our own to visit the pet cemetary. It was lovely, these beautiful ornamental gates were first


There were lots of these WindChime Trees, each clapper is in memory of a beloved pet.


This is the horse memorial


All of the graves had colored stones, rememberances, toys and collars on them. I must confess it brought a tear to the eye.

[sharon]

I've always said I wanted my vet to take care of me if I get really sick.....frankly, she does a better job on my babies than the docs do on me, plus she knows when to send them to the rainbow bridge. I have two of my german shephards buried in the back half acre, deep enough that they'll never be found. That looks like a great place to spend my final years.

By the way, love the hat! We'll be roaring by your place on Saturday, look or listen for 2 Harleys, a white one with 2 people on it (that would be me! not riding my own this trip) and a black one. We're staying at the lodge on North Rim, so if you get off work early enough, come by and say hi. Doubt if the boys will stop at Kaibab. We're staying in the Pioneer Cabin, BF isn't a hiker so I'm sure we'll be close by.

[Bethers]

Dang Sharon, you have to PASS us to get there - so why can't you stop and see us? I'm working housekeeping Sat morning, then working as hostess Sat evening - so I won't be able to get to you on Saturday. Have fun - and if possible, just stop in for a quick hi. Not sure if Sparkle might be able to make it up there later in the day - She works, but I didn't look to see what hours - I think 9-5.

And we will go back to Best Friends - as I had already told her it was on my list to see while here.

And, Sparkle, why didn't you talk about the pot bellied pigs????

[Sparkle]

Oh yes, Carrot and Raisin. I don't know why I didn't take a photo. Anyway, they were being taken for a walk to keep them fit. I of course had to scratch and slap them on the heini, they like that. When they continued their walk we went down one lane and they were supposed to go down the other lane, but they followed me. Wanted more of that scratching and slapping I guess. I'm going to try that on the next attractive man I meet...nothing else has worked.

[retiredhappy]

I don't dare go near a shelter - I have NO willpower at all. I have barely enough of the bed with my two Labs as it is now. I'm just thankful they let me share the bed with them. When its my guys time I'm going to have them cremated so our ashes can all be scattered together - I made my daughter promise she'd do that for me. As for the Rainbow Bridge and meeting up again with your pets, I'll be met by a herd and I can hardly wait - just need a really, really big bed.

[mitch5252]

..

The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful organization...Best Friends Animal Sanctuary - Click Here

[sharon]

Beth, I know we have to go right past you to get to the lodge, but really really doubt if I can talk the guys into stopping since we'll be so close to our destination. If we were an hour or something, I could probably talk them into stopping for a cold drink. Or if I was riding my own, I would just stop or come back after we got checked in. Sigh.....Right now the rv trip up there is up in the air because of problems here, but I'll let you know next week for sure if it's on or off. If it's off, I'll keep in touch and see if we can't meet somewhere on my way back from Arkansas. Doubt if I'll be starting back before the 28th and I could drag my heels and meet somewhere depending on which way you guys are coming down out of the mountains. Why oh why do things have to be so difficult???

[Bethers]

Sharon,
Are you only staying one night on the NR? If so, maybe you can talk them into stopping to say hi on the way off the mountain? I'll be working Sunday morning in housekeeping and Sparkle will be working at the desk - and we'd both manage to say hi. Oh, maybe you could have them come here for breakfast? The lodge here serves breakfast until 9:30. I'd take a break and sit with ya!!! Something to consider, anyway.

I sure hope you can come by later in the month - the alien creature wants to meet you. But I understand things happening. I'm just coming out of my funk now - good friends don't let you stay in one long, ya know.

[sharon]

Beth, we'll be on the road early Sunday morning on our way to Sedona. Would the guys stop 15 min into the trip for breakfast? Can you say he$$ no???? Unfortunately, I'm in the minority here and it's one of those "sit down, be quiet and just ride" deals. That's not usually a problem and I'm perfectly happy to just sit and enjoy the scenery. We stop every couple of hours for gas and a break, so it's really an enjoyable way to travel. I don't know, if we get to NR early enough and Mickey gets bored, maybe he'll bring me back down, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Once he's off the bike, he doesn't really want to get back on, and I can't blame him. I'm usually the same way.

I'll be sitting down with him when we get back and see what our schedules are, and then I'll know if I can make it back up there or not.

[Bethers]

I understand - just hate the thought of you being so close and not seeing you. We'll see what happens - life does go on