animal human bond

Hitting Milestones with Signs of Support from the Universe

Snow heart I discovered on a walk

Part of my day on Tuesday was preparing and addressing envelopes to send out complimentary copies of my new memoir to all the wonderful people who supported me along the way. 

Each time I hit a milestone like this I feel a whoosh of love run through my heart – and I know it’s Gidget. While she may not be here physically, I have felt her presence every step of the way, and I’m so grateful.

The books are now in the mail and on their way to the recipients. While writing is such a solitary endeavor it truly takes a team to bring a book into the world.

Writing a memoir for me has also meant that I have to first live my experiences before I share them. And then re-live them again as I write them. There is so much personal growth involved in the process for me.

In many ways, I’m welcoming this new phase as it is more linear, left-brain thinking as I am in preparation mode of getting ready to release it. And just an FYI that pre-ordering my new book, along with some bonus gifts is coming soon. 🙂 I hope you’ll stay tuned!

I also appreciate how the universe supports us with confirmation nudges along the way. Just recently I shared here on my blog about my story and an encounter with a snake that is included in a new book by my friend, Dawn Brunke, called Awakening the Ancient Power of Snake.

Reading Dawn’s book I learned about another author, Tera Thomas, who wrote a book called, Opening My Wings to Fly: What Animals Have Taught Me.

I read it in two days. It was hard to put down! Tera’s book is about how animals in the physical and non-physical have been some of her greatest teachers. She also shares her many experiences in communing with them, whether in dreams, meditative journeys, or in real life and how they have helped her become a better human being and live in harmony with them.

At times in my own life, I’ve thought I was losing my mind with how animals were showing up and trying to guide me – especially snake! It’s not something society often talks about and honestly not something many are even open to – this way of communing with animals that bring us messages we most need to hear and understand.  Reading Tera’s book, on the cusp of releasing mine, felt like connecting with yet another kindred spirit.

I’ve worked through much darkness to get to this point. Discovering other’s who have walked similar paths and their encounters with animals have been welcome validations. So to all the other authors (and animals!) who have walked before me, I say a big thank you! Just another welcome reminder that we never walk alone.

xo,

Barbara

 

 

Rent a Weenster

I’ve met some of the nicest people over the years because of my three disabled dachshunds. Among them are Lynn and Perry Phillips. They belong to these two adorable wiener dogs— Winnie, the English cream and Greta, the black and tan. Greta is a therapy dog and goes to work with Perry. I was so happy to run into them at the Farmer’s Market today!

It was a year ago that Winnie went down in her backend. I remember talking with Lynn trying to guide her at the beginning. After surgery and a bit of a rough road, Winnie is walking again. Yay! Lynn said she walks kind of like a drunken sailor, but she’s walking! Having loved and cared for three drunken sailors myself over the years, I completely understand.

Perry was holding Winnie in a dog carrier that hung around his shoulder. As we got to talking and Lynn and Perry expressed their sympathy for the loss of my Gidget, Perry slipped Winnie out of her carrier and handed her to me. I’d not held a weenster since Gidget passed the day before Mother’s Day.

Whoosh…the tears came and a flood of emotions. It felt good to hold sweet Winnie in my arms for a few moments.

Lynn and Perry both said I could rent one or both of them for a day when I feel the need to get a weenie dog fix. Rent for free Lynn said, though Perry kiddingly said it would be a quarter.  😉

It was enough for me today to pet both Winnie and Greta. I know someday I will want another dog. But for now, I’m feeling content with where I’m at. Though I still have my moments of wanting to hug my little Gidget just one more time. 

But that is what it’s all about. I’d still not trade the depth of love I experienced with all my dogs to avoid the time of grief.

And I’m grateful for the Farmer’s Market and being able to spend some time with the Phillips – two and four-legged!

P.S. Later on I ran into a friend who is a vendor at the market. She asked if I saw Winnie and Greta and commented about Perry who carried Winnie in a dog carrier around his shoulder, “That to me is a real man who will carry a dog around like that.” I could agree more. The Phillips truly love their dogs!

XO,

Barbara

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Special Celebrations!

You get one guess! Guess who is celebrating a birthday?  How did you know?  It’s true. Miss Gidget turned twelve this month.

The thing is, I don’t really know when her birthday is. Nor do I know her exact age. But from the records I received when I adopted her from a rescue five and a half years ago, this is the best guess.

In a newsletter I sent out earlier today it has a feature that shares wisdom from Gidget. She had this to say:  Happy 12th Birthday to me! My secret to life? Act like you are still two years old! One of my nicknames is “fidgety gidgety” as I sometimes tend to not sit still. But I also have my quiet moments. So my words of wisdom to you? Be still and squiggle too!

She appears to be smiling in this photo, don’t you think? I do and it makes my heart happy. Gidget has more than earned that smile. We have traveled quite the journey together of what at times has felt like more downs than ups. 

But of late, the rewards reaped from doing my personal inner work healing a childhood wound has resulted not only in more peace within me but Gidget too. I’ll be sharing that journey in my next memoir, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am. 

As has been the case with every dog I’ve been blessed to share my life with, Gidget was a reflection I needed at this time in my life that had me going through what is sometimes defined as a “dark night of the soul.”

It feels incredibly good to be on the other side of the darkness. Looking at this photo of Gidget I see and feel a lightness about her. It is definitely a reflection for me also.

What a dog of depth she is, though sweet and silly too. I often think about how I began calling her my Buddha dog when she first came to live with me and John in 2013. She has been the most beautiful beacon of light to my soul that felt lost for so long.

So… Happy Birthday dear Gidget! You wear the princess crown well. You are a dog of grace and wisdom and I’m so grateful for the unconditional love and sacred space you’ve held for me. xoxoxoxo

Speaking of celebrations!….there is more!

Yesterday afternoon John and I attended a special celebration in honor of this 90-year young lady! Many moons ago (25 years!) I worked with Marilyn at Kohl’s Dept store. She worked in the lingerie department. She was so meticulous with the many “unmentionables!”  She took great pride in keeping all the bras and panties neat as a pin on the clothing racks. I don’t know how she did it! Such patience she had. Many of us fondly called her the “Bra Lady.” For her retirement party, I still remember the “boob” cake with the adorning lace bra. It was quite the hit! It was an honor to celebrate her then as it was yesterday.

She loved the top I had on and especially loved the sleeves. I told her they are my angel wings. After I saw this photo of her and me, I was struck by the “angel wing” across her.  When we had arrived, Marilyn greeted John and me away from the other guests to tell us she is dealing with a cancer diagnosis that has no cure. 

Seeing this “angel wing” draped across her it’s my hope that angel wings indeed will be her guide and at her side, for however long she continues to be with us. Her spirit and attitude is nothing short of amazing. I have no doubt that has been her secret to reaching 90. 

The highlights of life that make the journey so worth it!

XO,

Barbara

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