Both Walked In Harmony; Both Walked In Pain

Both Walked In Harmony; Both Walked In Pain...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

The photo above is of Skip and 'his Big Boy', named Kissy.  I put this photo here for some very special people to see... you know who you are... just recently we 'met'... Welcome to my world ... my precious Husband, Skip, and one of our Precious Pups.  Looking at this photo... my Heart, my lips smile... tears come to my eyes... the Love in my Heart could never be put into words......... for my world.

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The man looked sick.  His face was red, flushed... he looked as if he had a fever.  He seemed to have a problem with his balance; one of knees appeared to be swollen.  This was a good place to come if one was sick.  You could tell he didn't feel well at all.

By his side, a woman walked... her right hand holding her right side.  One could tell she hurt... she was in pain.  Husband and wife... both walked in harmony; both walked in pain. Each reflected the other... each mirror full of pain.

Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.... the 'old woman'........... (only for right now!  :)))))))))))

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Listening to both of them, one got the impression that they were embarrassed to have so much wrong with them... all at the same time.  So much so, they were laughing at themselves... joking about this is how it would be when they got 'old'.

This was one time neither could go out in public... not able to hide the pain from anyone who happened to look.  They hoped no one was looking.  They were very private people... they had no one else but, each other.

They only shared something so personal with each other... so, when they had to leave the house like this... they did feel embarrassed; ashamed that they brought their pain 'out into the world'.

The day before, they went to a small Chinese restaurant to eat lunch.  The wife got out of the truck to walk in with her husband.  When she did, she felt the most excruciating pain in her right side.

She stood there, tears rolled down her cheeks from such pain.  She told her husband she had made a mistake, shouldn't have come... she hurt too bad to walk.  She... 'she' hurt too bad to walk!

She didn't want anyone to see her... 'walk old'.  Her husband told her to get back into the truck... he would drive her to the door.  She thought to herself... temporary, this is temporary... I'm not so old I can't walk.

He drove her to the door, she got out, went inside to wait... there was a family sitting at a booth close by.  They stared at her as they watched her try to hide her pain... She felt embarrassed, she couldn't stand up straight.  She felt humiliated.  She'd never felt like this before... she couldn't stand up straight.

Of course, she glanced at the family sitting there... she felt she owed them an explanation as to 'why' she walked that way.  The man and woman looked blankly at her... she smiled, said 'I have a pulled muscle'.

Neither acknowledged her... sat there chewing their food.  She thought to herself, 'I would have cared so much... I would have spoken a few words to be nice'.

Her husband parked the truck, walked through the parking lot, came inside.  He walked with a limp now; his right knee was 'killing'him.

They laughed at themselves.  The woman told her husband that it was funny... here, she was moaning, groaning, her right side hurt where she'd pulled a muscle... there he was, very sick... now, his knee was hurting.

She said it was funny because this is how they'd look when one day they became 'old'.  They were walking like 'old' people..... they both walked in harmony... they both walked in pain.

Scars Are Tattoos, Too... Both Tell Stories If You Can Read Them

Scars Are Tattoos, Too... Both Tell Stories If You Can Read Them

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Artwork by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee... Happy Colors... Just think about it... doing all scars in happy colors!  Scars are permanent 'tattoos'..... 

A long line travels along my left shoulder on my back in a backwards 'C'.  Not only does my left shoulder have a backwards 'C', there's a backwards 'C' on my right shoulder... on my back.

I look on my neck... I see two separate little 'round' scars.  Below them are two more much bigger scars... both of them on the right side of my chest.

On my sides, I have scars... two.  All of these scars go together... from two major surgeries... both done one year apart.  The same type of surgeries... thoracotomy.  I had a mass resting on the outside of my left lung, heart the first time.  The second time, inside my right lung....

Oh, my God... the pain I've had in my body since; I will have it the rest of my life... severed nerves, a rib removed on each side.  A little portion of my right lung removed.  

I think today, thoracotomies are done differently... maybe not cause all the pain I suffered recovering for months... the pain lasting until the day I die.  Since then... I've known pain everyday... minute.  I have 'bad' days when it's worse than others... so be it... I'm living. I want to live... I love life. 

I have learned to welcome this pain, no matter how bad it can be.  It's the 'extra' pain from injuries... and such... that can get me.  It's like pouring more water into a glass that is already full... too much.  

The scars I mentioned... are from surgeries, chemotherapy to save my life.  I had non-Hodgkins lymphoma... I'm in remission now.  

The point is ... I've been thinking about tattoos lately. I told you these things to lead up to my thoughts... today. 

All my followers know that I want only one little tattoo... a small dragonfly in memory of Tommy.  In memory... of the time my son lived, was a real person.  When someone sees, reads... they can see another 'story' about me.  They will see it... Tommy won't be forgotten.  I wrote 'I Cry For Tommy'... so, he wouldn't be forgotten.  

This led me to think about permanent tattoos... it came to me... I already have 'permanent tattoos'... they are there to tell a story.  A story about events in my life.  If one knows how to read them... they can go scar to scar, tell exactly what happened at this time in my life... that time.

The only difference ... these scars aren't in 'picture form'.  You see the scars... they are lines in shapes, but... not in a picture to tell you what you are looking at.  They don't have happy colors on them to make you feel good looking at them.  My scars would make you think things such as .... oh my God, you hurt... you suffered greatly.

I was thinking that if I had colors put on these scars... make them beautiful... one would see them differently.  One wouldn't 'see' the pain beneath each... wouldn't cringe thinking I went through something so terrible.  

I have more scars... there's one on my knee where I ran as a little girl, chasing my brother through the house.  I was constantly re-injuring my knee in the same place... no matter how I tried... my knee would hit the toolbox in the hall.

On the back of my right leg is a long scar shaped sort of like a 'L'.  My cousin pushed me in a wagon... backwards into a ditch.  In the ditch was a broken gallon jar with jagged edges... it cut me as I was thrown out of the wagon.  

Strange enough, all these years later... I learned from another cousin that she was the one who told him to push me into the ditch.... we were very young.  I think I was maybe ... six years old.

I remember being at the hospital... a big cast put on my leg.  My step-father carried me when we went places.  I remember having to rest in a room with the shades pulled... it was a nasty injury.

I have more scars from other surgeries... there's one on my left shoulder... a line scar several inches long.  I had a torn rotator cuff, had it repaired.  I think today... one can have it done leaving little evidence of a bigger surgery.  

I was thinking... suppose I had each scar done in happy colors... suppose I had a picture done on each to show what happened.  Like maybe a broken gallon glass jar with jagged edges done with the 'L' shaped scar to tell that story.

I could have pictures done on each scar to show what happened.  The only people who can 'read' these scars are people who work in the medical field.  If I had pictures tattooed with each one... then, the average person could 'read' them.

Skip has a long scar on the back of his leg.  Not long ago, a man told him he'd had the 'same operation'.  Skip asked him what operation.  

The man told him; the operation where they took a vein from the back of his leg.  Skip told him... that a little dog had scratched the back of his leg, jumping up on him.  'See' how we 'read scars'?

When Skip was in the tractor-trailer wreck in Moriarty, New Mexico... he had injuries that left scars.  Our Pup back then, scratched his knee in such a way, it looked like one of his injuries.  People assumed it was also, from the truck wreck.  They 'mis-read' his scar just as the man did, reading the scar on the back of his leg.

He could have a tattoo of a big truck on one of his scars; tattoo of a puppy (the puppy was Camie/Camo when she used to visit here;  now, she is living here... she is part of our family, now).... on the back of his leg.

I was thinking 'just suppose' I had a tattoo done on each 'C' scar on my shoulders... like beautiful lacey curtains 'pulled back' in the 'C' on each side.... then, a beautiful picture to show my heart... a big, loving heart.  

In that heart, the names of all the people I loved with it.....  Color the lacey curtains soft lavender... color the heart a soft pink (not bright red)... each name in a soft color 'floating' around in the heart.  Maybe do a hint of window panes .... because we'd be looking through them... have beautiful flowers, and roses ... all with various shades of green... swaying softly in the breeze.....

I'll stop now.  I'm getting silly... I'm sleep-deprived at the moment; this is my only excuse.  :)))

But, think about it... suppose I just had this scar done just as it is, in a beautiful color... that scar in another beautiful color.  Have every scar done in more different colors... no pictures.  It would be like 'confetti' floating around! 

 Suppose, each scar was a 'string'... and a picture of a balloon was on each... each balloon in a pretty color.  Have you ever thought of such things?  

Scars are tattoos, too.  Both tell stories if you can read them.

  

UPDATE... PRECIOUS CAMO... CAMIE (Day 6... July 09, 2013)

UPDATE ... PRECIOUS CAMO... CAMIE    (Day 6... July 09, 2013)
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee



Precious Camo's (Camie) Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/camocameobates

Little Precious Camo... we call her 'Camie' now, in honor of her Aunt Mezza.  I know God connected Camie and I... I know that he gave her the strength to get to me, let me know she was still alive... only to disappear once again.

Once I knew she was alive, I went into action.  I made a phone call asking for her.  Later, I received the phone call saying I could have her.  Thank-God... I was led to her to the edge of the woods where she lay dying.  She wouldn't get back up.

Instead of taking time to get the truck to go get her, I walked to find her.  I had the opportunity to get her out of her nightmare... I wasn't letting the window close on me.  I meant to save her.  For three days I had cried over her... I couldn't understand 'why' she didn't come to visit anymore.

I had become attached to this little puppy... Skip was always commenting on how much she loved me.  I didn't want to become attached to her... but, I wanted to make sure she got good food.  Every morning, evening ... I would make her a bowl of good food just as I did for our Pups.  She'd come to eat it... it made me happy.

Precious Camo/Camie.... this photo taken tonight... she's resting quietly.  See her cozy house, her little matching rug... happy, warm, loving colors to make her well.  Her bedding is always clean.

Camie is eating her good supper.  She has been a little more active this evening... I'm so thankful.  Yesterday, I worried she was dying... again.


I had begun putting medicine on her to heal her little body, after getting permission from the owner... then... as soon as she was getting better... she was gone.  Was someone keeping her from coming back... I don't know.  I only knew that every morning, evening... I would call for her.  I know when she lay dying... she heard my voice, wanted to come to me.  My heart squeezes in pain thinking about it.

I heard the words that had to do with 'getting rid of her'.  Later, the words about a shotgun if she was still living in a couple days.  I was told she was dying, not doing anything.  I was devastated.

You can understand why I didn't take time to get the truck to drive to get her.... I didn't want to waste any time.  Once under my protection, I could save her.  Once I was told that I could have her, she became mine.

I carried her physically... we both were in a lot of pain.  Mine from past surgeries, the 'forever' pain in my body.... and her little body all in sores, bleeding... I saw maggots on her.

I meant to get her to our home to care for her.  I couldn't believe the conditon this little baby puppy was in.  I won't talk bad about anyone, or point fingers... that's 'water under the dam'.  What's more important now... is Precious Camo/Camie.

She's on the road to recovery.  The only person I talk about this to... is Skip.  He knows my real feelings about letting a little puppy get in this condition.  He knows how devastated I've been, how I've cried out of pure grief for one little puppy I thought had died.

I have cried many tears over Camie; tears still come in my eyes, my heart.  I know she lay by her little self in the dark, dying.  Probably rained on... we've gotten so much rain lately.  I have to look forward... thinking like this breaks my very Heart.  I tell myself to go forward... she is getting better little by little.

Today makes 6 days she has been with us, her new family.  Each day I see a little improvement.  She is the perfect house Pup... she has been deathly sick... but, she's never 'went to the bathroom' in her recovery area.  Never.  I go to her often... so, she can go outside 'to go'.

She has a clean home, a fenced-in yard that's cleaned throughout each day... to keep her safe.  She gets good food, lots of fresh water... her bed is changed upwards of 4-5 times daily.  Her little body still bleeds, and such.  I won't let her lay on dirty bedding.

For now, she can only be petted in the lightest of touches... she hurts easily.  I pat her little head, and on her little rump making her wag her tail.  We look forward to loving her, hugging her, playing with her... it will be a while before that can happen.  For now, she feels love in our voices, our actions.

In the background you can see 'Tommy's Plant'... I placed it on top of Camie's cozy house to be happy, cheerful... hoping Tommy could in some way be her guardian angel......... it just 'felt right'.


Tonight, I sit here with a most painful pulled muscle in my right side.  It's caused me more tears.  :)))  I don't care.  I am focused on this little puppy getting well... I would crawl on the floor to help her if I had to.  I would fight a bear to... protect her.  She's my baby now... Precious Camo/Camie is now, one of 'Our Pups'...

Precious Camo (Camie) would love for you to come be her friend on Facebook.  Photos are placed daily to show her progress.  She welcomes all her new friends... all the prayers, and positive thoughts to help her get well.

Camie will always be an inside Pup now... she'll be able to run in and out of the pet door when she wants to. This one little puppy came to the right place... we love her with our very Hearts.....

PRECIOUS CAMO... NEW FACEBOOK PAGE LINK

PRECIOUS CAMO:    NEW FACEBOOK PAGE
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


Please come join/follow Camo's Journey as she gets well.  Her Facebook Page link is below:  She would love to have friends, see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/camocameobates

https://www.facebook.com/camocameobates

Mama, If I Die One Day... I Want To Come Back As Yours, Skip's Dog

Mama, If I Died One Day... I Want To Come Back As Yours, Skip's Dog
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

My son, Tommy, as a young boy... I miss you, Tommy, I miss you with my very Heart.  I miss a strawberry-blonde haired guy with a big sunshine smile... sparkling blue-green eyes.  You were so funny... interesting.  As my son... I not only loved you... I liked you as the person you were...
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Just months before Tommy died, he was at our home; he said something I never forgot.  I remember stopping whatever I was doing, I can't remember what... and looking at him.  He stood there with that bright, sunshiney face, grinning at me.  I felt pride when he said what he did to me.  I didn't know he thought about such...


We were always laughing, joking about something.  Skip and Tommy were always matching wits; and seeing who could come up with the funniest jokes.  They truly enjoyed that.  Afterwards... they'd walk away, and I could look outside, see them sitting, talking about real life events.  Sometimes, I would stand quietly, thank God for both of them.  They were my whole world... Skip, Tommy, and the Pups.  I'd watch their expressions... laughter, heads nodding to each other... their posture would be in harmony... mirroring each other.  I'd go do something else, smiling inside... thinking I was so fortunate to have my husband, my son.


Secretly, Tommy would 'gather Skip's jokes' to make them his own.  :)))  This was so when he was out on the road, he'd could tell them to other drivers.  He'd tell them to everybody... he admired Skip's sense of humor, and how 'quick Skip was to get on his feet'.  Skip could come back with a reply to anything... never searching for words to say something funny.  He is a natural... he has the gift of gab.  Secretly... Skip was proud that Tommy 'stole' his jokes, sayings; he and Tommy were very close.


Tommy was just as funny!  He could say the funniest things, keep us laughing.  He just didn't know what he admired about Skip... he, also... had the natural ability to tell funny jokes; to come back with something quickly... he always had 'words' to say.  Tommy had the gift of gab... he could 'talk up a storm'...


What was so funny... was when Tommy would forget...  tell Skip his own jokes!!!  I would watch Skip, loving what I'd see.  He'd put on a mock-face of being indignant... and say, "Tommy, you are telling me my own jokes"!!!  I would laugh; Tommy's face would begin to turn red... and then, he would laugh so much.  Skip made him laugh harder with the funny things he'd say...  I truly miss these days... times.


Tommy always reminded me of his beautiful red-headed grandmother.  She had red hair, blue eyes...  every time I see her in my mind...I see that smile!  Oh, she had a wonderful smile that wouldn't stop.


That's where Tommy got his strawberry-blonde hair, bright sunshine smile!  Imagine that... with golden sunlight all around them... that's what happens when I think of 'them' together... like one and one equals two...  Tommy and his grandmother, Igel... their heads thrown back laughing with pure abandonment; totally engrossed in their own joking, happiness being around each other.  One sensed they couldn't wait to see what the other would say... like volleying a ball back, forwards across the net.  Neither one of them was going to 'miss' it!  Their words, laughter was ... non-stop.

Tommy got his 'gift of gab' from his grandmother; his father's mother.  When Tommy was little, it was fun to see both of them, joking each other.  He loved his red-headed grandmother!  She talked to him constantly, when he was a little fellow... and he talked back to her before his words were... words.  How could he resist with such a happy, kind, face with jolly blue eyes, and beautiful red hair?


Tears come to my eyes... no one knows the love I had for her.  Tommy knew, Skip knews the love, respect I had for her.  He met her... in just a few minutes he saw 'why' I loved her; why I had such a wonderful impression of her.  He fell in love with her, too.


She became my mother, also... for almost 14 years.  Beautiful, sweet Arzie Igel.  I'll never-ever forget you.  You meant the world to me in my young world when I had no one.  I 'feel' you in my heart as I write about you.


Before I go on... I have to remember two other people here, that I loved very much... back then.  They are two more 'red-headed people with blue eyes with those bright sunshine-smiles'.  They were Tommy's grandmother's brother, Charles.... and her sister, Dip.  This... is where Tommy's bright sunshine smile came from... and his fun ways.


I have to remember Dip, Igel's sister.  She would get me to come spend the night with her... oh, what fun we had laughing, talking.  I grew to love this red-headed woman with the blue eyes, sunshine-smile, too!  This lady was Tommy's great-aunt.


Charles used to live on our property in his RV.  We'd walk down to see him; sit a while laughing, joking, talking.  His blue eyes would twinkle, and his red hair would shine in the sunshine.  His two sisters didn't have anything on him... his laugh, smile equaled theirs!  I loved him, too.  He, like his two sisters... let you know with those eyes, if they liked you.  Their eyes would sparkle with laughter, love... or they'd be cold as stone... they always sparkled at... me.  Tommy's eyes did the same... his eyes so like theirs... eyes so like mine.


When I moved to the North Carolina mountains as a very young girl... these three people stood out to me.  I loved them on instant sight... I didn't meet them all at once.  Through time, I met them... it was like meeting Igel all over again... more sunshine!  My son had that special smile... just like them.


Golden sunshine...sparkling blue eyes... Tommy's eyes blue like theirs-green like mine; depending on what he wore; the colors around him. My grandchildren, Tommy's children... have the same eyes... ones that can make you feel so loved, special.  But, if you don't do right... eyes that can stop you in your tracks.  Like Tommy's... like Igel; Dip; Charles... like mine.

Amazing how one can 'see' different family members in one child.  I'm always amazed seeing such... as children begin to mature.  For a time, they look just like one person only, to look like someone else in their families.  Finally... one day they look ... like themselves.  :)))


Oh, Tommy... how I miss your bright, sunshine smile.  I sit here with tears in my eyes, a smile on my face as I 'see' you in my mind... with your Grandma Igel...a little strawberry-blonde haired boy with a beautiful, young red-headed lady standing out in the sunshine... the golden light surrounding you both.  I remember you both with such special love in my heart... my precious son; my friend, mother, sister... all in one special woman.


I smile as I remember the words you said to me that day.  You were petting our Rottweiler, Fairchild, talking to him.  You looked up, said to me:  "Mama, if I die one day... I want to come back as yours, Skip's dog"!


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Could it be?  :)))  How do we ever know?  Kissy Fairchild Bates above... with his little-big perfect head, spoiled self..... :)))


Note:  You might get a smile out of this, we do now... thinking about it.  If it were possible, then... it's true.  If not, it's fun to talk about, remember.......... If Tommy were here, he'd get a kick out of this:


Our Kissy Fairchild Pup's birthday is 11-02-2010
Our Tommy's birthday was 11-20-1969... he died 2010, on May 29th.


I can 'see Tommy' grinning in my mind, his mouth moving.... did he say something?  Could it be that he is saying, 'I told you if I died one day... I wanted to come back as yours, Skip's dog'?


Why?  Because we love our Pups, care for them.  I was thinking that 'if I died one day'... I'd want to come back as something 'with arms'... I just 'feel'... that I'd like to keep my arms, hands... so, I can do things with them!  :)))

Oh, I'd like to have my legs, feet.... my head full of wonderful hair... don't forget, I want to have my eyes... I like to see with my eyes.... oh my, this list could go 'on and on'.... Oh!  I would want to be little again... not a little girl... but, a ...... size 9, once again!  Ha! Ha! Ha!

Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee... Remembering Tommy, my son.  Remembering other special people who passed through my life... into the other world... one we'd like to believe our loved ones, have gone to.

It's Time To Truly Make Her A Part Of... Us

It's Time To Truly Make Her A Part Of... Us
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

This is little, precious Camo... I'm so thankful to have her.  You might not can see the beauty of this little soul, yet... soon, you will.  I'm going to make her get well... if I have to lay by her side, I will care for her.  She has   a good home, soon will be a 'house Pup'; good food, and ... us.  For now, she has to be to herself so, she can heal... for now, I'm glad she is acclimated to the outside.  I drop the canvas each night over the door, sides of her 'cozy house', so mosquitoes can't bite her.  See her little precious face... it melts my heart.




I just folded Camo's towels, bath cloth, bedding.  I washed all in hot, sudsy, Clorox water.  In the morning, I will take the big kennel cab she has for her 'cozy house'... wash it out with sudsy, Clorox water.

She has a fenced-in enclosure on the porch so, she can move about as she wants.  She has two stainless steel bowls... one holding dry food she can eat whenever she wants to... the other holds her evening supper.... pure white chicken breast with dry food.  A big pan holds her cool water to drink.

I have a piece of canvas I pull down over her 'cozy house' at night-time to protect her from mosquitoes.  Outside her fence, there's a big fan to circulate the air around her during the day.

She eats very good, drinks a lot of cool water.  She's very 'wiggly', her tail goes up in the air.  I'm so thankful.  Looking at her, one would think there's no way she could have any energy.

Camo's skin was left untreated; she didn't have a clean, dry place to lay as she became very sick.  It breaks my heart thinking about it.

Thank-God, she somehow made a trip to here ... I know she was looking for me.  Thank-God, I walked outside in time to see her... to know she didn't die... Camo was alive!

I am going to make her get well.  I will sleep by her side if I have to.  I mean for Camo to be beautiful, well, spoiled and happy.  That's what this little, precious puppy deserves.

I can't even begin to tell you the stress of watching her suffer when she came each day for a morning, evening treat.  I asked for permission to get medicine for her... and said I would put it on her.  I was told I could.  She began to get better.... then, I didn't see her anymore... excepting to see her briefly run here to look in her bowl.  I could see she had gotten worse.

I began worrying about her.  I was told she was dying, not moving anymore... and a shotgun would be brought home in a day or two, if she wasn't better.  Oh, my heart... I agonized over this beautiful little puppy...

I began to cry uncontrollably when I got by myself... I should have asked for her.  Now, she'd be dead by the next day, surely.....  I felt anger because I felt the people knew I'd become attached to her, they no longer wanted her because they are expecting a baby.

Not only that, we had bought medicine for her twice... why didn't someone tell me so, her skin wouldn't get into such horrid condition.  Why?  I had the medicine here for her... I was going to use it faithfully.

Not only have I been experiencing stress for this precious puppy.... we've had several other things to stress us out.  It all caught up to me yesterday evening... my chest began hurting in the center.  This happens from time to time... this time was the worst ever.  I began to have a headache, an awful headache.

I was alone, Skip wasn't here.  I made it outside to the pickup... I was going to drive myself to the emergency room.  I didn't want to leave our Pups.... and Camo.  I sat in the pickup, crying.  I began to dial 911.... changed my mind, called Skip.  I couldn't get him on the cell phone.

I laid back against the seat.  I realized I'd run outside to the pickup, barefooted... on the rocks!  I didn't even notice ... the pain was that bad.  I kept taking deep breaths, hoping the pain would subside.  I didn't want to leave the Pups... Skip won't be home for several days.

Thank-God, I was home... Camo would surely have died.  These thoughts were going through my mind as I kept trying to decide 'should I go, call 911'.  The pain was 'ungodly'.......

This went on for about ten-fifteen minutes when... thankfully, the pain subsided.  I could breathe easier; my head quit hurting.  I thanked God... I didn't want to leave now... not when I have to make Camo get well so, she can be 'home' just like our other Pups.  I don't want her to have to sleep on the porch no longer than she needs to.  I'm so glad for now... she has been an outside pup.  Not for long....

The strange thing is.... she won't go to the 'bathroom' on the porch.  I have to be here to let her run free in the fenced-in yard.  She's already 'house-broken' on her own.  I'm so proud of that.... of course, when 'she goes' out in the yard... I praise her by clapping my hands, saying 'yay-yyyyyyyy'!!!

She is going to blend in our family beautifully... she'll have free run to go outside when she wants to, just like Kissy, and Chadwick.  They have a nice pet door.  Not only that... their yard is always clean... we clean it constantly.  We don't want them to walk in a 'nasty' yard.

When she is well, she will sleep on the bed with 'all of us'... I'm so thankful we haven't gotten rid of our king-size bed!  I was wanting to downsize to a queen-size... not anymore.  :)))  I look forward to the day in the near future for her to become truly a part of 'us'... live in the house with us.  I can tell she is going to be a very good Pup, too.

I have all her clean bedding, bath cloth ready to put in her cozy house in the morning.  Little Camo never has to sleep on anything dirty ever again... and will soon sleep on a soft bed... in the near future.  As long as I have a breath in me... our Pups will be loved, spoiled, taken care of.

We are her family now... we will protect her just as we do our Pups... because as of yesterday, July 04... 2013, she became 'our Pup'.... also.  Now... it's time for her to get well.... so, we can hug her, play with her without hurting her skin... make her truly a part of 'us.

A Healing Breeze Blows For Camo...

A Healing Breeze Blows For Camo...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee



The morning sun was shining as I stood outside
To see what the Pups were barking at
I thought they barked as if little Camo was here
Sadness filled my heart, I knew she had died

I looked to my left, my eyes stopped, blinked
What I saw sent a shock through me, could it be
I wasn't sure I was seeing what I saw
I've seen strange, amazing things in my time

Camo!  She stopped, turned around to look at me
I saw her little tail high in the air
Her skin looked so bad, she'd lost more hair
My heart hurt at the sight of her

Did she come back from the grave?
Our Pups stood staring just as I did
No longer barking... was she really there?
I ran in the house with thoughts to get her a treat

I came back outside, through the gate
There she stood as I fed her little treats
I thought she was real... until I ran back into the house
Came back out with medicine for her... she was gone

Camo!  Camo!  Camo!  I called her name
It was as if she had never been there
Skip called on the cell phone, I told him what happened
I told him I must be seeing things... she was no longer there

He told me if I saw her... she was real
Where did she go... why didn't she come back to me
I knew she loved me... I loved her, too
A thought came to my mind... she is really alive

I called the people who had her, asked them if I could
Have Camo... could she be my puppy?
Later that day, my answer came
Yes, you can have her... my heart soared

I never meant to have a third Pup... but, it must be meant to be
Later I went to get her, brought her home
I doctored her, have her in a little fence on our porch
Put soft rugs inside a huge kennel cab

The wind is blowing ... in my mind it is a healing breeze
I know it helps her skin as the medicine works its magic
I'm going to get Camo well; take good care of  her
You can see by the photo that she has a ways to go

She seems to know she is safe, cared for, loved
Her little tail wags for me when I speak to her
I'm so thankful to have her, I cried many tears for her
For a little puppy named Camo, who in my mind had ... died

I stood outside thanking God for this precious little puppy
Yesterday I was grieving for her, crying many tears for her
I am thankful to have the chance to care for her
I hear the wind chimes as a healing breeze blows for ... Camo



NOTE:    Camo has become one of 'our Pups'... she will be
spoiled, fed good, loved.  Everything is going to be alright...
:)))  Soon, she'll be running again... inside the Pups' fence with
Kissy Fairchild, and Chadwick Elsworth!

If I Could Have Just Known... Rest In Peace Little Camo

If I Could Have Just Known... Rest In Peace Little Camo
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/Granny Gee



I walked outside in the bright sunshine
Smiling a happy smile, calling to you
I waited several moments to call again
For a moment, I felt something inside

I looked through the leaves of the shrubbery
Where I knew I'd first see your little feet
Soon, your little body as you ran
Happily, tail up in the air

You ran to me, happy to get little special
Treats, and a hug from me
I called your name once again
One more time... you didn't come

The next day, I walked back to the same spot
To call once more... something inside... fear?
I pushed it away; I just knew you'd come
Running to me, little tail up high

You didn't come once again, I felt tears
In my eyes, my mind began to question
Why?  Why aren't you coming to me
The third day... I 'knew' you wouldn't be coming

I began to sob... I had to face up to the knowledge
Something... is wrong; I felt sick inside
I want to know... I don't want to know
I'm going to hurt again... I've grown to love you

Little precious puppy, so happy... sweet
I find out that you are dying
I can't bear the pain... it hurts so bad
Little Camo... a little puppy named Camo

I would have taken you if I knew you weren't wanted
I miss seeing you run, play, your little tail up in the air
So happy, free... trusting everyone to protect you
I didn't know... now, I sit here... I cry for you

For a little precious baby puppy who loved me
Whom I'd grown to love... the ones who said they loved her
Didn't love her the way they should
If I could have just known... if I could have just known


Note:  My heart breaks for a little puppy I grew to love... I wish
I had just asked for her, protected her.  Now... I cry for... her.  I am
grieving for her... a sweet, little innocent soul.  Rest in peace, Camo.

Tears, Thoughts, Time... Tommy

Tears, Thoughts, Time...  Tommy

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Artwork by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.... 'Just A Doodle'

.........................................................

This evening I find myself easily in tears.  Life, death... death, life.  Watching the news, I see that nineteen firefighters lost their lives.  I felt such pain inside thinking of their mothers, wives, children, fathers, sisters, and brothers.  I wanted to weep... but...

The news went on to show a little child taken hostage in a local Walmart.  A mother walked to the counter to look at maybe packages of meat, or cheese.  She had two children, one old enough to walk beside the shopping cart... one inside the cart.

A big guy moved, took her child out of the shopping cart as soon as the mother's back turned.  He began making demands... people called the police.  Soon, they were there talking to him.  A hostage negotiator was brought in...  

He talked on the news...  He came in... not knowing how it all began, making his job difficult. The negotiator began talking, the big guy told him that he had 60 seconds to give in to his demands... or he'd kill the child. Once he put a time on it, the hostage negotiator had no choice but, to...

Walk over to the big guy who was sitting in a chair with a knife to the child's stomach... shoot the hostage taker in the head.  The hostage negotiator said once the hostage taker put a time on 'when he was killing the child'... he had no choice.

Sadness, pain while watching the mother who was beside herself as she was trying to get her baby back... the police forcibly removing her from the scene.  What was going through that poor mother's mind?   

One thing after the other... so much pain, so much grief.  It affected me, making me tearful this evening.  Tearful for the pain of wives, children, fathers, mothers grieving for their sons who died trying to fight an uncontrollable fire in Arizona to save others, their homes. 

I thought of my own son.  It's only natural that I do... I know this.  It still doesn't lessen the pain... it doesn't make any difference.  He still died... no matter how... he died.

I wonder how many people feel pain for others as they watch the evening news?  Shed tears over the pain of others?  

This is sort of how my evening has been.  Now... I am looking forward to watching 'Under The Dome'... tonight.  I think my tears are gone until, I see the news tomorrow morning.  Someone always dies during the night... someone is shot; there's a wreck... something is always happening now.  

Strange enough... I never see a 'dent in the population' from all the deaths I know of in my lifetime.  Do you?  Have you ever thought about such things?  I'm always thinking... there's no telling what I'll think of next.  Oh, I had plenty of unanswered questions as a child... the adults would just tell me to 'shut up'.....  :)))

In today's time... I don't think adults do that now.  Children are big thinkers; smart as whips.  Adults encourage children to think, speak for themselves.  I remember being told... 'children are meant to be seen... not heard'.

This evening has been tears, thoughts back in time, and ... Tommy.

Especially When That Good Neighbor Is... Me

Especially When That Good Neighbor Is... Me
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee



Sometimes... we can live places where if you become too familiar with people who live nearby... it's not the happiest thing in the world.  Especially when the relationship is one-sided; when you only want to be friendly 'from a distance'...

Especially when a person has been private many years... who isn't ready to give it up for people she/he knows aren't ever going to be there in his/her life.

Especially... when they only want to use he/she as a taxi; to borrow money... or overcharge to do things for you.

Definitely... no one wants neighbors like that... ones who 'can't hold their ground'.  Who did they depend on 'before'?

Good people will fall into the 'trap' by being so nice, caring.  This leads people into thinking you are weak, easily taken advantage of.  They don't know that good people 'hope their new neighbors' are just as nice.

Good neighbors dread coming home; try to be quiet when opening, closing doors.  Dread when their phone begins to ring... know that if they show 'life signs' around their home... someone is going to 'break that peacefulness' that was known 'before' someone moved into the neighborhood.

It's sad, because someone's feelings are bound to be hurt.  Hurt in a gentle way... because it'll embarrass, and let someone know they haven't fooled... anyone.  Especially... after 3 times... it's only 'a matter of time'.....

Embarrassment... because someone will know that all along... good neighbors 'knew the whole time'... what was going on... they gave the benefit of the doubt.... hoped someone would get the hint; not over-step boundaries.  Good neighbors are just that... no more.  They aren't your taxi cabs, nor your 'bank'...

Hurt when they realize that if they 'dropped a puppy off' somewhere to 'get rid of it'... they need to never-ever expect good neighbors to look at them, acknowledge them again.

Someone's going to feel really bad... especially... if a little precious puppy isn't around anymore.  One that the good neighbors bought medicine for to help its skin; fed it extra to help it get more good things to nourish its body.

The good neighbors will stay good neighbors, only help if there's an emergency... but, their friendship will never be there... again.  They will never be a 'taxi cab' again; nor will they ever pay too much for a small service... again.  Regardless... they won't be that ever again.....

Especially... if that little puppy has been mistreated... taken off somewhere without the good neighbors knowing that it might need a new home...

Especially... if the good neighbors would have taken the little puppy they had grown to love, care for.

Especially when... someone said they knew the good neighbors loved that puppy.... and they liked that.  Liked that the good neighbors were helping to make its skin well... someone liked that the good neighbors bought medicine for it... even put it on.

Liked that the good neighbors gave their little puppy 'extra' good food.  Liked knowing the puppy was always welcomed at their home, yard.

Finding out about the little puppy is going to determine a lot of things.... especially when the good neighbors will still be nice; but... never the same again.

Especially if someone can mistreat a young puppy... get rid of a precious little puppy.

No... the good neighbors won't ever be the same ... especially when that good neighbor is...  me.