17 May, 2020 - Our Boy Oliver & Our Girl Elsa

Dear, Mom -

Good morning, or afternoon. I hope you are well and having a nice day.

Today was a bit of a sad day for Holly and I, but also a happy one. It was 2 years ago today that we lost your other granddog, Oliver. Our hearts are heavy in remembering him as our good boy who was so loving. We then look to the newer addition to the family, Elsa, and the happiness is helped to return, albeit slowly. We had our boy Oliver in Holly's and my life for about 13 years. Holly had found him 4 years earlier as a stray on the streets of San Antonio, Texas and the two were inseparable after that. They share a very strong bond, even with Oliver being in heaven. He was almost 18 years old, which is a very long life for and Aussie/Border Collie mix. He deserved every second and more.

This is a picture of us on our last day together. He was the most handsome boy.

We were so very lucky after Oliver passed that we found Elsa. She had not lived the best life, but had obviously been loved to her prior human's best abilities. She was dirty with matted patches, overweight, and had/has prior trauma from fireworks, lawn mowers, and guns. But she is gentle, very obedient in the house and on leash, and has a warm, gentle soul with deep, brown eyes that people often say look very human. We know she is grateful to be able to sleep on a bed(her own or ours), have a full belly and treats, and humans that will are kind and loving to her. The following is the picture of Elsa that made us drive to The Dalles to go rescue her. We couldn't resist that smile!

Tonight, we remembered Oliver, had a bit of a cry, watched a silly movie about animals called Pets 2 (very cute and funny) then gave Elsa some scritches on the ears and rubbed her belly. It was nice.

I guess we all have a somber day sometimes. The whole day wasn't like that, though. The sun came out and I was able to sit in its warmth and tend to my garden starts. As I was talking to some neighbors walking by with their pups, a couple of other people passed in front of the house, too. Low and behold, it was my old bass player that I hadn't seen in about 8 months. He was a window washer downtown and had fallen 8 floors when his rigging failed. He was in the hospital for a couple months. He broke his legs and feet, and burned his hands on the rope, but had no other lasting damage. There he was walking in front of my house like a guy who never had that day of bad luck. It made my heart so happy to see him able to walk down the street with no assistance just enjoying the day. That was a really, nice surprise indeed.

I better get to bed. I have to get up and walk Elsa then head over to Vancouver, WA to the chiropractor. I missed my last appointment and I'm starting to feel it. I always feel much more relaxed after seeing Dr. Scott.

Guess what, Mom?! I love YOU!!! I will talk to you soon. Your Gal, Sal