You gotta see this…I laughed so hard, my dogs left the room…quote by Yram Sicnarf who does a brief rebuttal …

https://maryfrancismcninch.com/2021/08/01/murdo-girl-we-need-a-new-beginning/

Try not to judge…

I tried to capture every nuance and every minute on display.

The Queen’s God given body was laid to rest, today.

Funerals are for the living. We need time to say goodbye.

Her soul’s at peace in heaven. It is we who need to cry.

We saw the faces of her family and at times we saw their grief.

Her son, the King, filled with emotion, let a tear roll down his cheek

They moved the scepter, orb and crown as all of us watched on.

King Charles III was handed, and with grace took the baton.

I felt a tear run down my cheek though all emotion had been spent.

There is value in things she said and even more in what she meant.

Don’t match evil for evil, nor curse when you are cursed.

Show kindness and you’ll be blessed. It’s promised in a Bible verse.

1 Peter 3:9

God Bless Queen Elizabeth. There’s no need for us to weep.

She knew our Lord and Savior and the promises He will keep…

MG’s answer to the question:

The question is supposed to be…Looking back as a child, how is my life different than I thought it would be? How is it the same? I didn’t have room for all of that in the title.

Thinking back, I don’t know if I was different or the same as most kids. I remember imagining myself married to a man who always wore a suit. My husband also wore a hat. He didn’t look like my dad, although Dad often wore a hat. It was one of those brown felt Fedora type hats. The man didn’t look like Dad although I don’t know for sure because I never saw his face. I remember he was taller and leaner than  my dad.

I thought I would be a flight attendant or stewardess as they called them back then. It’s funny I thought that’s what I would grow up to be because the first time I flew, I was eleven and I was sure the airplane would crash and I was going to die. I flew alone because Mom decided to stay in California longer and I had to go back to school. I remember that I paid no attention to the stewardess as she explained how to use the oxygen and the floatation cushion. The thing I feared more than the airplane crashing was to be floating around in the ocean on a seat cushion that doubled as floatie, oxygen or no oxygen.

I don’t think I imagined that I would have children because, (this will sound gross), I was afraid they would get sick and throw up. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle that. When I was in the 2nd grade, one of the kids threw up on her desk and I took one look at that and threw up, too. The teacher called Mom and I had to go home, even though after the other girl left with her mother, I felt okay.

Now, as to how my life is the same as I thought it would be…

I have sat here for five minutes and tried to think of something and I can’t recall one thing that I thought back then actually played out the way I imagined it would. I thought if I couldn’t be a stewardess, I would be a gymnast or a singer or dancer. God knows that didn’t happen. Goals have to be achievable. I sure didn’t think I would ever leave Murdo, and I certainly didn’t think I would live in that faraway land known as Texas. I didn’t plan to be a mortgage loan underwriter, and there was no such thing as a blog or even a computer. I could type words pretty fast, but I never could type numbers without looking. I still can’t. It’s a good thing I fell into something else I could do to make a living because I would have starved to death if I had been a secretary.

It’s kind of a scary thought that my life hasn’t turned out one bit like I thought it would. I’m sure my cousin’s answer will be much more to the point. I bet she can type numbers, too.

I just remembered. There is one thing that is the same as I imagined it would be. I always knew I would have a dog. I’ve had seventeen.

Lav’s response to MG’s story:

This is very good and funny and prophetic! The faraway land called Texas!?! No kids because they vomit!? You’re Too much!!!

You thought you’d be a flight attendant which you very well could’ve! But a gymnast or dancer or singer? Well, maybe in your next life.

So glad you did fulfill that dog owner dream. We need more people like you. 

Lav’s answer to the question…

My current life is much different from what I imagined it would be like as a child. I thought I’d live on a ranch just like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. I used to watch their TV show and thought they were the best people ever. They were living the fun free life, yessiree! We would ride around in a jeep – “Whoa Nellybelle!” -and ride horses so we could chase after the bad guys and catch some varmints once in a while. Pat Brady would help us. And naturally Trigger the horse  and our dog, Bullet, were always saving us. We would herd cattle – not DAIRY CATTLE – and take care of the chickens, pigs, and horses to our hearts content.  We would be rich in many ways not just with money but fun times and happiness abounding, out in the fresh air.  Out in the country.  Ahh, what a good life. 

Instead, I went to college in California after the popular surfer time was just peaking in high school then the Beatles and it kept rockin on. I got pretty good grades. Then I graduated from college, did student teaching, and got married and taught high school then taught elementary school in a remote area on the coast near Big Sur.  There’s no time to give my life story here. That would take up another few paragraphs and that’s another story. 

This might seem like a “cop out”, however, I do not think my current life is anything the same as what I as a kid had imagined. Why can’t life just be like a Saturday morning western TV show?  It just didn’t turn out like I had imagined.  

(Please don’t tell Roy Rogers this. It’s our little secret.)

MG’s response to Lav’s story:

Through wind and rain and weather, we 70ish girls stay together. Just keep those milk cows moovin. RAWHIDE!!!

Cuz Lav wrote a great and very true story…Happy Labor Day!!!

Going to the dogs…if they let me…
I had been on the volunteer job at the dog shelter for a few months, and luckily they didn’t can me after almost losing the first dog I walked, Snowball.  I thought things were going doggone well, when I chose a chunk of a dog to walk one day. I picked out pit bull mix, Katie, she was squat, thick like brick and reminded me of a mini tank. These dogs have gotten a bad rap. I love pit bulls that people haven’t messed up. She had an adorable toothy smile. She took me on a walk of a lifetime. It was like walking a mini granite building with legs. The entire walk, I was praying I could keep up with her. She was strong, weight lifter strong. She loved getting out and about in the beautiful area around the SPCA grounds. I’m not sure who was puffing more, her or me. Her tongue hanging out with a fun waddle of her backside, tail wagging all the way made me happy and her squared off face with beautiful eyes was a delight . It was a solid workout, from which I hoped to recover.  Katie was in charge of me. I even thought I could hear her say, “Heel!” to me. My shoulder and arm had no feeling when we got back to the adoption floor, but the thrill of pretending to walk this great dog made up for it all. It was an honor to be with this marvelous animal. I had survived  Katie taking me out on a walk. I was puffing but happy.  Dogs are better than a lot of humans. They like you for who you are, failures or successful people alike, no matter who you are. It made me feel good. Katie had shown me who was in charge, but she didn’t rub it in.

Another time I volunteered, -(the administration was still letting me come in) – I managed to get into a kennel with a larger dog and my leash.These were separate from the dog condos.  It was always tricky getting the slip leash around a dog’s neck and not allowing them to get out before I was ready. I was trying a new method:  go into the kennel with the dog after reading all the important info posted on the door. Maybe give the dog a few treats, say their name and talk calmly as you assess the situation. I was thinking how good I was at this. Bet they were happy to have me here volunteering, even at my age I was an expert, a real asset to the dog community. Maybe I would get a certificate or special pin or a cupcake treat.

As I got the leash on the large Labrador Husky mix, I reached for the door latch to go out on our walk. The metal latch that drops down was engaged as was this little extra twirly thing that assures no dog can get out. It also made sure I didn’t get out. Doggone it! I saw someone nearby in the official SPCA shirt, and asked to be let out. She looked at me like, “How did you let that happen?” The employee told me how to just reach under the twirly thing on the door latch and then as you push it out you can flip the latch up.  You’re not stuck inside, but you are if you didn’t  listen when the trainers taught you the ropes during the on site tour. I thanked her and went on another dog walk.  The Lab/Husky mix didn’t seem to blame me, he was just glad to get out of there and be on a walk in the open air and sunshine.  That’s another great thing about dogs. They don’t hold grudges nor make you feel dumb.  You can do that yourself.

I enjoyed all my time walking dogs, washing dishes, seeing and greeting customers who are looking for a life long friend, the perfect dog for them. So after a couple years, I asked about the back shelters and getting trained to help in the large buildings there where dogs who are not ready to be adopted or have had surgery are kept.  Was I ready to move up? Could I emotionally handle seeing dogs with problems or health issues? I wasn’t sure. Maybe my cousin was right. The SPCA will eventually charge me to volunteer there!
Hmm. That’s another story.

You set a beautiful example, Valerie Halla. No matter what your challenges are (0:

We just couldn’t include the really sad pictures, but believe me, there are many…Please give what you can to your local SPCA or Humane Society…Or take a special friend home!

Going to the Dogs…BY LAV, Illustrations by MG
After I retired, it seemed like a good idea to give back to my community and to the world.  I had the time now to volunteer helping animals who needed homes. This would be rewarding. I could handle this. It would be fun.

My retired friends volunteered at schools, public libraries and food banks. I love animals so I decided to volunteer at the SPCA. It took me a while to get up the nerve and to find the time. Finally, I went online and applied to our local SPCA, paid the fee for getting fingerprinted and went in for my interview. The young gal who asked me a few questions was easy to talk with and it turned out, she lived 8 miles from where I did. She hired me on the spot and I got the feeling, it was because I was nice and I was a warm body.

So I passed with flying colors but had to take a 4 hour class and be trained on the site. After all that,  I got my official badge, T-shirt and sign in number. I started walking dogs that were up for adoption and helping customers who came to see the dogs, safe dogs who had been screened.

The first dog that I walked, Snowball, was it turned out, much smaller but much smarter than me.  I got the slip collar leash on him and we headed out of the yard through the gate. He stopped as I went forward and he just backed out of that collar like one slick and cool snowball sliding away into the distance, away he ran. “Help, help, I lost my dog!” I yelled, running to get help from the main office.  An employee ran out with me to help (not all workers are volunteers) and she was quite serious and quite professional as she and soon another employee headed Snowball off by the gate, where he obediently stood waiting to get back on the main grounds where the kennels are located.

“Ma’am, we don’t yell ‘Help’. Just say ‘loose dog’ or call this number on your cell,” the kind worker informed me, giving me the number to put into my phone contacts. Snowball was now leashed up again, and heading to his little home kennel, which were called “condos “.  They’re nice clean little rooms with all glass doors and viewing windows on one side for dogs to live in just like at your house until they find their forever home. Snowball had rolled back home and didn’t want to have a thing to do with me. He looked at me. He was wagging his tail as if to say, “So there, you volunteer newby. You couldn’t keep me on a leash. I am too slick! Ha!”

The first dog I walked, and he escaped easily. I felt like a failure. I can’t even walk dogs? But wait… this was volunteer work. This was voluntary. They couldn’t fire me. It wasn’t like I had  to pass an audition or tryouts. And I was a senior. Surely they’ll feel sorry for an oldster who means well. They couldn’t get rid of me so easily.

I hung in there and walked more dogs over the next months, making sure they could not pull out or back out of their slip leash. I washed dog dishes, cat litter boxes, and kongs part of my time there. I got better as I got more experience. I found out though that some dogs are super strong so one big dog I took out once, took ME for the walk. I hung on for dear life. More later…