Our Thoughts Are Stepping Stones

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee







Our THOUGHTS are stepping stones in this life. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Photo by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.  I was ... thinking ... maybe THOUGHTS are like this photo ... they are ... there.  When one begins to add more things to the picture ... flowers, fences, stepping stones, wooden bridges ... so on ... we create beautiful things in life.  THOUGHTS are the stepping stones in this life.

Since you are a human like me ... I'm assuming you have the same thoughts I do.  Maybe not at the same time ... or think quite in the same way as I do.  Surely ... the same things are thought at one time or other that we all think about depending on what's going on in our lives.




Sometimes I think of something ... mention it to others.  They'll look blankly at me, not know what to say.  I instantly know they haven't been thinking anything at all about what I'm thinking of.




When others don't think the way I do ... or have heard of anything I think about ... this leads me to believe that's why things are invented, or grand things happen.  Our thoughts are stepping stones ... we all travel in life on thoughts.  Think about it.




Our thoughts are what life is about.  Think of humans walking around without a brain ... they would wander aimlessly without a thought in their heads.  They couldn't do not one thing without a thought.  Think about it.




I know you've heard just like I have ... two heads or more is better than one.  Why?  THOUGHTS.  Sharing ideas ... brainstorming.  That's how we come up with the grand scheme of things.




Surely no one is vain enough to think they alone ... invented something, designed something, wrote something ... without through time someone else's thoughts influencing, flavoring, molding their thoughts until ... one day out of the blue ... they have an idea!  To write a best seller!  Invent something of value!  To do something so special to make a difference in this world!




Just like when I make my homemade soup ... ingredients are like ... THOUGHTS.  I put this one in ... that one in ... until I come up with the best tasting soup possible!  ( Now, my mind is on making a good homemade soup! )




That's the best homemade soup I've ever eaten! Wow, this is good soup!  When one takes the best ingredients they alone 'decide' on out of listening, learning from others through time ... through THOUGHTS ... they come up with the best soup possible!  They may add, take away the ingredients/THOUGHTS that do or don't work for them coming up with their own signature soup!  When someone tastes their soup ... they know who made it.




Sometimes ... people get the same thoughts ... they have to find unique ways to use them to come up with their own idea of making them into something special.




For example ... a lot of us write constantly ... we feel very happy when someone likes what we write (I am so happy when someone loves my soup ... why it matters so much ... I don't know! :)  We all say/write the same things ... the ones who change up the words, make them more interesting ... are the ones who come up with the best read.  Even a best seller!




Whether you know it or not ... you are thinking.  Whether you know it or not ... you are listening to others constantly.  Your mind is like a filing cabinet ... filing thoughts away.  Whether you know it or not ... you are always thinking of better ways to do things in your life.




Another example:  We rescued a Pit Bull dog from Hell.  Our friends helped us to purchase a chain link kennel, doghouse, etc.  We brought Duke, our rescued dog, home on January 17, 2017.  Since ... I've been brainstorming ... reading online ... listening to others' ideas on how to care for ... make his kennel weatherproof, warmer in this winter weather ... how to make his life the best I can.




I have never wanted a dog I had to keep outside.  I love my dogs ... they are like children ... children live in the house.  Ours have a pet door and their fenced-in yard.  This is what I prefer.




Duke has to live in the kennel ... we have now 3 very strong, powerful dogs ... and if together without a fence between them ... there would be a tragedy.




The point is ... I am constantly ... thinking THOUGHTS ... to make his life as good as possible being an outside dog.  I am using my thoughts ... a mixture of other people's thoughts ... to come up with how I care for this beautiful dog who has to live outside.  I never want him to suffer again.




I've decided ... THOUGHTS are our stepping stones to everything in this life.  Think about it.










Note by this Author:




I'm sure I'm not the only one to think that 'THOUGHTS are our stepping stones to everything in this life' ... I've just never heard this phrase before.  So, it's my phrase since I think like this ...




Photo/Thoughts are owned/written by me ... these are My Thoughts :).  I'm sure you have thought of these things at one time or other ... think about it.  By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Guardian Angels and a White Dog

Note:  I am sharing my story from MyLot.com ... I wrote it tonight to remember when we rescued Duke.  The name of it is:  He Deserves a Better Life.  Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

He Deserves a Better Life ...

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Guardian angels live here on earth to watch over people, animals alike. I know ... I've been watched over ... I have watched over. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

This photo owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.  Trees the chain tangled up on ... trapping a beautiful dog outside in the weather ... keeping him from getting to his house.

You can see Duke, the white dog ... peeping out from the old doghouse ... he barely made it inside clawing his way knocking his bucket of water over.  

Sitting on a hill lush ... green

In the same position several days at a time

Never making a sound ... watching life go by

Day by day a couple walked by 

On their daily walk

They noticed the white dog on the hill

The dog never barked at them

The couple often spoke of what a good dog

Wondered if he would bite

This went on through the hot, summer days

The days began to get cold

Nights ... freezing

The couple wondered why the dog 

Would be in the same spot 

When they walked by

One day without quite knowing why

The woman told her husband to walk with her

To take a look up on the hill

What she saw broke her Heart

The white dog lay tangled in stumps

Chain around his neck ... hung around the trees

She walked to the dog 

Talking softly all the while

Never thinking if he would bite her

She led the dog around the trees

Around the stumps to his dog house

The white dog gratefully ran inside

That day was when the couple 

Became guardian angels

They would watch over this dog

Each morning ... throughout each day

Every night they would come

To watch over this precious dog

They fed him breakfast each morning

Coming back to make sure he wasn't tangled

Numerous times a day

Each evening they brought him supper

After dark they drove to shine a light

To make sure the white dog was safely in his house

They grew to love this sweet dog

The white dog loved them

A bond grew between all three

Guardian angels here on earth

Protecting an innocent life

Through each day ... night

No one knows that some guardian angels

Cry many tears over what humans do

Abusing, mistreating innocent people, animals

The woman guardian angel woke up

Crying at nights saying prayers for the white dog

She hurried each morning to go to him

One day the owner happened to show up

She asked him for the white dog

No, he said ... he guards my property

She looked the man in his face

Gently told him that his dog deserved a better life

The man smiled never saying a word

A snow and ice storm made things worst

The owner never came for a whole week 

The roads stayed icy, impassable 

All the while the guardian angels

Took care of the white dog

Walking to him numerous times a day

Carrying food ... water in jugs ... fresh bucket

Several times they found the white dog

Unable to move ... his heavy chain frozen to the ground

The heavy chain tangled on stumps

Around trees ... the white dog couldn't move

Trapped out in the weather unable to go in its house

The woman guardian angel went to him

All the while talking softly to him

Tears flowing down her cheeks

I'm so sorry precious one

I've got to get you away from here

Poor baby, you're so cold

The white dog would get up 

Walking as she guided him 

Around the stumps, trees

When free he would run to his old dog house

Trying to get warm as his body shook

The blankets she'd brought him weren't enough

The man brought a thick, quilted, waterproof cover

They put it over the old dog house

They put a bag of shavings inside for warmth

One day after the snow ... ice storm

The owner showed up ... he walked to them

Saying he had a proposition to make

Either they could have the white dog

Or they could find him a home

Finally the day came they could rescue this white dog

The woman began to panic 

They had no extra money to get the white dog

A fence ... extra food ... they already had two dogs

She meant to rescue the white dog no matter what

The white dog had to stay that night

There wasn't a safe space to carry him to

The woman began to ask her friends on Facebook

To please help her help the white dog

By the next day ... a miracle happened

She had the money to go purchase a kennel

A new doghouse .... food, heavy-duty tarp 

They hurried to go get the white dog

The woman unhooked the chain from a tree

She led the white dog to her truck ... chain and all

They brought the white dog to his new home

Took the heavy chain off his neck 

Gave him a big chew bone, fresh food ... water

The white dog didn't know how to act 

Days went by until a routine was established

Breakfast each morning ... playing during the day

Supper in the evenings 

The woman had a roll of canvas

She had an idea to make the kennel weatherproof

Her husband helped her carry it to the kennel

She began to unwrap canvas, cut it to fit

The kennel ... making it windproof

They put a heavy-duty tarp over the top

Now the white dog lived in a cloth house

The thick, quilted windproof/weatherproof cover

Covered the white dog's new house

Inside the house was thick ... soft, cedar shavings

Shavings spilled out onto the floor making it soft

A good place to lay on in the sunshine

Duke came to live with us on January 17, 2017

He is a beautiful, loving white Pit Bull

He has known love before he lived in Hell

He knows what a leash is when put on

He automatically walks to the door of his kennel

I walk him around inside tell him to sit ... he does

Skip and I have been guardian angels

To this precious dog

Rescued him from the bad life he was in

The man who used to own Duke

Must have heard my low, soft voice

When I said to him ... this dog deserves a better life

This is Duke, the white dog ... he now lives in a 'Cloth House' ... canvas around sides, heavy-duty tarp on top.  I can roll his curtains up each day ... in the winter weather I roll them down at nights.  During very cold, windy days I roll them down leaving him a place to look out.

Note by this Author:

I wrote this to remember how Duke came to live with us.  There was a connection behind him ... Skip and I.  

Thank God ... we can look back ... see when his life would have come to an end during the bad ice storm we had in January 2017.  

No one would have come to him for a whole week if we hadn't known what was going on.  

We made the difference in a precious dog's life.  This is my second rescue dog ... both live with us today.  

We have three dogs ... Kissy, our Rottie ... Camie, our Australian Blue Heeler mixed (I rescued her) ... and now, Duke ... our Pit Bull.

We wish to have him live inside with us and Kissy and Camie.  We don't like for our dogs to live outside and haven't ever let one do so.  

For now ... we can't put Duke, Kissy and Camie together as a bad fight could happen.  As time goes by ... it may take a lot of time ... we will work toward helping all three make friends.

Photo/story poem owned/written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Don't Judge People by Their Scars ...

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photo taken by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee ... 

The roads of Life are many ... we travel them to become who we are today. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Looking down into the most beautiful face in the world.  A part of a parent lays in their arms ... the most special part of one.  A baby ... a little miracle.





Oh, he looks like you ... time goes by ... she looks like me!  Awe, wonder at what two people have created.  A beautiful, innocent child.






Working day in ... day out to provide everything a child needs ... or desires.  The child grows up to be a teenager ... becomes ungrateful not realizing parents sacrificed so much to bring them to this time. Looking forward to seeing their children grow up, become responsible ... get married ... have their own little special miracles ... grandchildren.






First ... the teenage stage where the child begins to hate authority ... set out to be everything the parent doesn't want.  Anger ... dishonesty ... yes, I'm going to spend the night with my girlfriend ... leave the house ... get out of sight ... get in the car with a boy.  Anger because being a teenager means knowing best ... knowing more than a stuffy old parent.  Resentment being told what to do ... let me smoke my weed ... do my drugs ... aw-www give me another drink.







Life is good until looking into the face of a parent ... bitter, raw anger when they scream, yell.  Screaming, yelling is a mixture of love, pain, anger seeing a child go wrong.   It's meant to shock the teenager into getting off the road to destruction.







Screaming, yelling pushes a teenager toward danger, the wrong direction.  How does a parent know ... handle it without screaming, yelling?  Pain, love, anger gets in the way ... they can't talk to be understood in a calm way.  Screaming, yelling pushes the teenager further away ... they take a turn on Destruction Road.







As the teenager travels on Destruction Road ... he/she sees turns in every direction.  A sign on the left reads:  Drug Avenue.  Sign on the right reads:  Alcohol Blvd.  Signs down Destruction Road read:  Rape Circle ... Killing Field Road ... Party Street ... Lake of Tears ... Lake of Anguish ... Despair Pond ... Suicide Avenue ... the signs go on.  Destruction Road ... a teenager has to travel only far enough to realize this isn't the direction they want to continue.







Teenagers who learn early avoid all the grief, mistakes others make if they continue to travel down the road. These are the teenagers who go on to make something of themselves.  They have become aware ... open their eyes to seeing real life.  It may take something bad to make something good.







Sometimes ... one doesn't learn during the teenage years.  They enter their twenties ... everything is learned hard.  Mistakes are made ... near death ... always something scary ... bad.  Destruction Road is no place for anyone who isn't bad to the bone ... for anyone who really is good, kind, cares about others. Destruction Road is sure Hell on Earth.







If only a teenager could open his/her eyes ... see the love, pain, anger when a parent screams, yells ... see it for what it really is ... they would never turn on Destruction Road.  They might make some wrong turns in life ... that's to help one learn from mistakes but ... it's better than traveling on Destruction Road.







If only a parent could reach a teenager in a calm, quiet way.  I sometimes, wonder ... if an invisible wall naturally falls into place at a certain time in a child's life to blind them to see which direction they will take?  I wonder if invisible earplugs impair a teen's hearing?  I wonder if an invisible box surrounds a youngster's heart ... making it cold as ice.  Have you ever seen how cold a child, a teenager's heart can be ... when they are on the wrong paths in life.







Have you noticed on the news ... shootings every day.  A lot of them are done by young people who are on Destruction Road.  Have you ever noticed the cold expressions on their faces ... no remorse ... no feelings at all.  They have cold hearts ... don't care if they took a child from a mother ... a sister away from a sister, brother ... a son, daughter from a father ... grandchildren from grandparents.







I know from personal experience not all 'bad' people are truly bad.  They seem to be that way because of many reasons.  Some may do drugs in their private lives ... drink alcohol in their private lives ... have addictions they can't beat.  I know ... grew up with this my whole life ... that doesn't mean they are truly bad people ... they do good things in life.  They live with what happened to them when they took the wrong turns in life.







Anyone is lucky not to have all kinds of things wrong with them when they grow up.  Dance too close to the flames ... get burned by the flames.  Flames attract people ... invite them to come close for warmth ... get burnt by the fire.  When young it's too easy to be deceived into so much ... they are lucky to come out of it without permanent scars.  Scars are the trade-off to live when dancing too close to the flames.







I look back as far as I possibly can ... so many memories of really bad things in my little life ... teenage life ... through my years.  In my life I've known so much 'bad' ... I kept turning ... trying to get off Destruction Road, when off that road ... all my wrong turn roads.  I traveled too close to the flames ... on the outskirts never quite having the nerve to go into the fire.  I have those scars now ... no one can see ... they are invisible but, felt by me.  I was fortunate ... I learned early ... learned from mine ... others' mistakes.







I was too naive ... innocent ... thinking all that glittered ... was gold.  I am lucky not to be addicted to drugs, drinking ... I mean I really am lucky not to be addicted to drugs, alcohol.  I'm just so fortunate ... my biggest thing is loving good flavors in food ... therefore ... I've always fought my way on the Weight Road.  Oh ... I have such a big Heart that cares about people, animals.  So ... I travel on Big Heart Road always in my Life.







The good ... bad in my life has shaped me until today ... to being 'Gloria'.  I would like to think I am a very good person.  I know I have a high temper ... I always try to be nice even when pushed a bit ... my number is 3 ... I take a stand, plant my feet on the ground ... and will hold my own.







I travel the Road of Kindness ... Love Dogs Circle ... Love Animals Blvd, People Love Avenue in my life.  I travel other roads, also.  I always try to travel on good roads ... I don't like bumpy rides at my age.  I have a hard enough time weathering storms in my life.  I like to think I have done all (easier to say than to experience all) ... in a good, positive way.  I really, really strive to be the best I can ... I know I can't be perfect.







All the wrong turns in Life shaped me to being a good person today.  Sometimes, it doesn't do that with everyone.  The good thing is that even the people you think are 'bad' ... do the 'bad things' you don't approve of ... are sometimes, the best people you'll ever meet.  The 'bad things' you disapprove are ... only the scars left from traveling on the Roads of Life.  Don't judge people by their scars.









Note by this Author:






Life is life ... things happen.  We all have to make decisions from the time we are very young.  Some young people have the ability to go on in life not making the mistakes most young people do.  They may have the family support, friends, good home ... food, that others don't have to make life easier.






They may live in better neighborhoods, have more stable parents ... they may have a lot of wonderful, good things in their life to buffer them from learning the hard way.  I didn't have clouds to buffer my falls ... I didn't turn bitter, though I grew up with anger ... somehow I had a good, kind Heart as a child.  That Heart is what kept me from turning into a truly bad, ugly person.  I could have been just as bad, ruthless as I am good, kind, loving.  Thank God for the good, kind, loving.






Photo/story owned, written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.    #teenagers, #mistakes in life, #wrong turns in life

I've Been a River ... I've Been a Waterfall

I've Been a River ... I've Been a Waterfall
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photo owned/taken by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Drops of water splashing on a rock
I watch the drop break apart
Into a million more drops of water

Millions of drops ... water
Sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight
Splash here ... splash there

I've watched my own teardrops fall
Fall while in amazement
At how many I could cry

Like a waterfall that never stops
My eyes cried teardrops for my child
Making pools ... here ... there

When I lay my head on my pillow
My tear drops flow like a river
From my eyes

Standing up I became a waterfall
Tears falling on my hands
I stared in amazement as each fell

Diamond teardrops perfectly shaped
Ready to put in a gold ring
If they were solid

Sometimes I become a flood
Drowning in tear drops
I have nowhere to run

Amazed at the drops of water
Splashing from my eyes
Onto the rocks beneath my feet

I've been a river ... I've been a waterfall
A flood all at the same time
Today ... I am a quiet, deep pool of calm water







Note by this Author:

Like a quiet, deep pool of calm water ... my grief lies below the surface like the fish that swim around.  Sometimes ... my grief surfaces just as a fish does when someone throws bread to them.

I know grief is a forever feeling in my Heart ... it's love for my son ... sad I'll never see him again.  Pain for what was ... pain for what isn't now.  It really does hurt so bad ... though I'm so very strong ... I've accepted it.

No matter what ... no matter how bad ... everything is going to be alright.

Photo/poem owned/written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee in memory of my son, Tommy.  I miss you with my very Heart, Son.






No matter what ... no matter how bad ... everything is going to be alright. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Traveling Grieving Mother's Road

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee






(I am sharing this from my writing site MyLot.com)

Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

NOTE:
I dedicate this poem to Debbie Reavis who has recently lost her son ... I wrote this poem with her in mind ... I'm standing here with outstretched hand ... waiting however long it takes ... for her to get to where I am ... in the sunlight.  Debbie, if I could take your pain away I would ... I know how it feels ... I care with my Heart.  Love Your Friend, Gloria    I'm so sorry you have to walk the road of a Grieving Mother.







I've traveled Grieving Mother's Road ... I am still on it 6 years later. Everything does get better no matter how bad. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.







You walk in darkness
Because your child is gone
I'm ahead of you
Holding out my hand

We both walk the same road
I'm just a little farther ahead
I stand in the sunshine now
Waiting for you to reach the light

My heart hurts for you
Because I know what it is
To be a grieving mother
Struggling in the sea of darkness

I know the pain, panic
The feeling of trapped birds
In a cage ... wings fluttering
Trying to get out

I wait patiently for you to arrive
It may take months ... years
I wait here in the sunlight
Holding my hand out

For you to take one day
The road is long ... hard
I wish I could walk the road
Of Grieving Mother for you

So you wouldn't have to suffer pain
When you say in words your pain
I feel the pain in my very soul
I know what it feels like to lose a son

I've been there ... I'm here now
Waiting for you no matter how long
It takes for you to get here
You aren't alone on the road of Grieving Mother

When you are alone crying
Open your eyes ... look ahead
Can you see me ... I'm standing right here
I'm holding my hand out ... waiting for you

You may not know it now
I promise you the day will come
Everything is going to be alright
No matter how bad

I know this as a grieving mother
So, I reach out to you ... I see you
In the distance ... in the darkness
Trying to find light ... any light

Open your eyes ... look here
I'm a grieving mother who knows your pain
I hold my hand out while I wait
On the Grieving Mother's road

I know you have many more tears to shed
It's not time yet for you to take my hand
When the day comes ... sadly we'll smile
Say ... I'm so glad to be here

That will be the day you came to terms
Accepting what is impossible to now
Your son is gone ... my son is gone
We know how it feels ... we are grieving mothers

Let's turn toward the darkness if need be
Wait with outstretched hand
To let another grieving mother
Know she isn't alone ...

Stand as a beacon of light for her to see
On the darkest path of her life
Be there to let her know we care
We know ... we've been there





Note by this Author:

My friend's life has just taken a turn on Grieving Mother's Road.  Oh my, I know the heartache, pain she is in ... has to bear.  I'm here for her.


I had to put some of my feelings in words ... I feel her pain so much.  I hope all my Friends ... Followers will say a prayer for Debbie.  I know prayers work miracles ... they have many times in my own life.


I pray for a miracle to help her as she travels in the darkness until one day she can come out into the sunshine.  Oh my, how I feel her pain deeply in my soul.


Photo/poem owned/written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

You Never Know Who We Brush Shoulders With ...

Photo owned/taken by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee  ... This is what abuse looks like. You never know who you brush shoulders with ... there are people who do awful things ... while you believe they are good people.

Note:  I am sharing with you what I posted on my Facebook, my writing site at MyLot.com this morning at Facebook.com/granny gee.

When someone mistreats/abuses an animal/person ... there's always someone who is watching ... someone who hurts because of your actions. You don't only abuse the animal/person ... you abuse people who care, love. This is strictly how I feel ... no one will ever know the pain in my Heart seeing mistreated people/animals from the time I was little ... to now ... today.

With my very Heart ... I wish for each abuser ... the opportunity to walk in the shoes of the very ones they abuse ... to understand what their hands, minds do to another being. No more ... no less ... only what you, the abuser dishes out.

I am a very good person. I love with my very Heart. I care about everyone, animals. I don't ever wish bad for others. I forgive things I don't see others forgive. I strive to be the best I can. You might ask me how could I say the above statements I just made.

This morning this has been on my mind. I've settled down now for the first time in the almost past 3 months ... I can think, look back at what's transpired.

I was thinking no one can ever know the grief, pain I've been experiencing since seeing Duke in distress ... suffering ... going through such things because of another human being's hands.

I look at the big picture and think to myself ... this dog was isolated, left to tangle up around trees, stumps ... his water to freeze ... his food to be rained on ... weather to fall on him while he fought to get to his dog house, couldn't because of a chain. A cold, open doghouse. What in the world was the owner thinking? I remember his words .... "I have him here to protect my property".

Protect a mobile home no one lived in, junk cars around. Duke was there to suffer for those things ... with his very life. For that? Really?

I think about ... days without a living being to be around, a kind word ... water, food rained on ... frozen. Tangled on the ground, heavy-ass chain frozen to the ground ... Duke couldn't get to his house out of the falling weather ... ice everywhere. Really?

When he was in his house ... it was open to the elements. No warmth. He had to lay there for months in isolation. Really?

I don't think any of my Friends would do that ... protect their property with the very life of a dog ... putting it through such pain, suffering.

I think about how Duke doesn't reflect any of that ... you'd never know he had to live like that. He's the most loving, beautiful dog that gets into your very Heart. No one would know he wasn't treated good in his life. The good thing is we can tell he was loved before ... thankfully, this owner who had him ... only had him for 5 months.

These are my thoughts this morning. I put them here ... this is where I go to think out loud ... here, my Blog ... my writing site.

I don't even ask 'why people do the things they do' ... anymore. I'm finally old enough to realize ... people DO, Will ... do anything. Only they know 'why?'

That's why bad things happen ... those people who DO, Will ... do anything live right along with us. They could be your family, friends, acquaintances ... strangers. We never know who we brush shoulders with these days in our very populated world.

These are strictly my own thoughts, feelings. I don't push them on anyone ... nor do I allow others to think for me. I mean that in the very nicest way. I'm interested in what you all feel ... feel free to tell me.

Cushion My Fall

Note: Sharing my story today from my writing site: MyLot.com

Photo taken, owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Give me Clouds to cushion my falls, bumps in Life.

Cushion me from all the bumps, bangs in Life with soft, fluffy clouds! By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

No matter what we do ... it seems there's always something invented to protect, keep us from getting hurt.





Safety belts so we won't be thrown out of our cars in an accident.  Air bag to buffer us from a crash.  Stop lights to keep us from occupying the same space at one time.





These are just examples of things to protect us in case ... so we won't get hurt.  Look around you ... you can see things in place to protect you, your pets.  I have not 1 but 2 safety gates up over the storm door ... to be doubly sure our 2 dogs won't get outside to get hurt.  We have the kennel to protect our rescue dog from getting hurt ... his safe space.





I was watching tv and saw a Dorito bag with something on the front of the bag ... for one to touch to find out if they are too drunk to drive.  Have you ever thought about such?





No matter ... sometimes, we are going to get hurt.  But, I'll take anything that will ... cushion my fall!








Note by this Author:




The Tostitos bag has a ring on the front of the bag for one to test themselves to see if they are too drunk to drive.  How neat is that?  The ring turns green if you are okay ... red if you've had too much to drink.  How amazing is that?



I'll take all the soft, fluffy 'Clouds' in Life to cushion my falls, protect me from any pain.



Photo/story owned/written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Thin Air

Thin Air
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

I reached out into the air
Reaching toward something unseen
Hoping to find ... to hold my son's hand

I felt nothing as I held my hand out
I moved my hand back ... forward as if
I was moving a curtain so I could see

Again ... nothing was there
I closed my eyes ... a warm tear flowed down
My cheek ... as I stood there

I bowed my head into my hands
Knowing I will go through the rest of my life
Searching thin air ... hoping to find my son

You who haven't lost a child can't understand
How can you when you have your child
You think ...  thank God it's her ... not me

I'm glad you can think that way
So you won't be searching for your child
Hoping for something to come from thin air







Note by this Author ... Grieving Mother

A grieving mother is always searching for her child ... be it a likeness or a sound, scent.  This grieving mother hopes to just get to speak a few moments with her son ... if it can happen to someone else ... it can to her, also.

The grief gets easier over years ... it never goes away.  It's like the fish underneath the water ... it can jump out any moment.  Like the splashes of water from the fish ... grief lashes at a grieving mother's heart.  No, it never goes away ... it's always beneath the surface laying low until a likeness, sound, scent triggers it ... like the bait on a fishing pole.  Sometimes ... a big fish ... sometimes, a little fish.

Whether people like it or not who knows a grieving mother ... whether grief makes them uncomfortable or not ... doesn't matter.  Grief is there whether one likes it or not.  It's a fact of life.  We live, we die ... we are one way or the other.

Poem/photo written/owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.  Photo of Tommy ... my son with his son, Taban.  Taken exactly one year on May 29, 2009 before he died at the ocean playing with his son, Taban on May 29, 2010.

Dog In The Cloth House

Note:  Sharing my story I wrote on MyLot.com ... January 26, 2017

This is Duke, he is the dog in the 'cloth house'.  He has a 10' by 10' ... 6' high kennel.  He has lived on a heavy chain in the winter weather.  I have made sure he doesn't have to feel the winter weather.  The only thing left to do is ... to just move in with him :) <3

I don't believe in keeping dogs outside ... since I have to ... I have made Duke a 'cloth house' with canvas ... tarp on top. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Well ... I think I've gotten Duke's kennel as homey and cozy as possible.  I never wanted to keep a dog outside ... never.

We live in a small house ... and we have 2 more spoiled Pups who wouldn't tolerate Duke to live inside.  So ... I've never kept a dog outside ... and I worry for him.  I can't bear the idea of him getting cold again.  I still have images of him in my mind frozen to the ground ... not being able to get up. 

The heavy-ass chain around his neck was frozen ... it was also ... tangled around the trees, stumps.  Duke didn't have a chance in H...... of getting into his dog house.  He had to lay there until someone came to help him.

Skip and I had become Duke's guardian angels for almost 2 months when the ice storm hit here.  No one could drive on the roads for at least 3 days around here.  The man who owned Duke didn't come for a week.

  

Skip and I walked in the ice to Duke ... carrying food, fresh water in jugs for him for several days.  I cried a lot of tears for Duke ... more than anyone knows.

Finally one day the owner was there ... he told us we could have the dog or find him a home ... he wasn't coming back.  We didn't have the money to purchase a kennel, doghouse and such ... my Facebook Friends sent money to help me help Duke.

I have been covering Duke's kennel ... we put a thick-quilted waterproof/windproof covering around his doghouse.  His doghouse is wrapped, tucked in that big cover!  [em]happy[/em]

Now ... Duke is the dog in the cloth house!  [em]happy[/em]

Note by this Author:  

I think now ... I can relax more now that I have Duke all 'tucked in' for the coming winter weather this week.  During the days I can roll the front curtain up so, he can see all the comings .... goings of Kissy, Camie our other 2 Pups, and Skip and I.

I study his kennel everyday to see what else I can do to make sure he doesn't have to feel the cold.  I wish he could be inside with us ... it bothers me when I'm warm in the house ... he isn't.  I feel all dogs should be inside Pups, cared for like children ... loved, being near their humans.  They need that.

Photo/true story owned/written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Tears in My Coffee

Note:  I'm sharing my story from MyLot.com I wrote this morning.

Duke ... this precious face has my Heart.  Can you see his teardrop?  This was when we brought him home from Hell on January 17, 2017.  Do dogs cry?  

When you love an animal you discover it's like loving a child. They are so innocent, precious ... depend on you to love, not hurt them. By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

Tears freely flow like water from the tap ... pure, pure Love in every one.  I don't cry easily ... only when I love with my very Heart.

I've been thinking of the beautiful dog we rescued recently.  Our Friends helped us to raise money to purchase him a kennel, doghouse, soft cedar shavings, food, etc.  He has a safe space all his own.

I've worked hard to make it all weatherproof as possible for him.  I have created a neat looking kennel with canvas, tarp covering the top, and sides ... on the front I made a roll-up/down curtain to use at any moment.

We wrapped his new doghouse in a black, thick quilted, waterproof/windproof covering ... he can nudge the flap to go inside ... it falls back down to keep the winter air out.

We go out to him all through the day ... make sure his kennel is spotless.  Make sure his food, water is fine.  We sit on his doghouse beside him when he jumps up to be closer to our faces to give us sweet kisses.

We talk to this beautiful dog named Duke.  He only knows love, kindness from our hands as we rub his head, back.  Skip and I talk to him, play with him.

While we do that we see that his nails need to be trimmed.  We feel his shots need to be updated.  We see these things and for now, can't get them done.  We are on a limited income.

I've been overwhelmed with many thoughts. Thoughts about him getting cold when the weather turns to freezing again ... this weekend it's going to.  Thoughts about him having to live in a smaller space when we wish he could live inside.  We treat our Pups inside like children.

Our Pups inside have their own pet door, fenced-in yard.  They get to lay down beside us, touch us for comfort ... love.  Duke, the Pup we just rescued ... can't.  I think of him outside all the time.  Sadly, our Pups inside wouldn't tolerate another dog ... that's the only reason Duke has to live outside in his kennel.

I can't bear the idea of Duke being cold when we are inside ... warm.  I'm afraid he will want to run, play ... can't.  I worry, worry all the time.  He has the best of care when it comes to his food, water, clean kennel, love from us.  Having an outside pet requires so much more.

I've told Skip the only way I can let go of Duke to go to another home is if the person has only one dog ... that's Duke.  If they have the money we don't have to afford his shots, checkups, nails trimmed and such.  Has a place to run, play safely.  In other words ... so much more than we can give him.  You know ... like a child ... you want so much for your children.  Duke isn't any different.

It may be possible that Duke can get that kind of love, home.  The kind of home we want for him.  Even knowing that ... tears fall in my coffee cup as I drink it.  Tears of pure love for a dog named Duke who deserves a good life. I would have to have a promise signed by anyone if I let go of Duke ... they would have to promise to give him back to us if they decided not to keep him.  More tears in my coffee ....




Note from this Author:


Story/photo written, owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.  I couldn't go back to sleep this morning for worrying.  So, I got up to write my worry as I drank my coffee ... I realized I was crying and my tears flowed into my cup.