So long. Farewell. Goodbye, Suki.

During months languishing in the alley, naked without her tags, empty of children and laughter, Suki had to content herself with glimpses of her family peeking at her over the fence and occasionally coming out to pet her and reminisce with her.

Now, Suki's long wait is over. After discounting junk yards and demolition derbies as incompatible with Suki's spirit, we decided to donate her to the nonprofit La Puente, where she will be reincarnated into funds to help the homeless. She hitched a ride on a tow truck, and we followed behind in the Subaru and remembered all the other times we'd seen Suki on a tow truck (and there were a LOT of times). After the necessary paperwork, we bid her farewell with smiles and waves and petting and bumper-sticker reading. She was happy.

Goodbye, Suki.

The End.

River Sprites

Motel Sleepers

Leo and Sophie started out on opposite ends of the bed (laying cross-ways), but ended up snuggled together in the middle.






And Marian slept in the walk-in closet. (Boy, was I shocked to see a walk-in closet!)


I love my kids!

(Leo got his cast off the next morning.)_

Good Morning, Sunshine

And good morning, Coot.

Leo and Me

These were taken during our one-on-one time in the motel the night before his apppointment with the orthopedic surgeon and his hard cast.

The Gay Agenda

Happy Mother's Day

My heart outside of my body, enjoying the beautiful windy day:

Nature Babies

The big girl









The boy









The little girl











The brood













The energy

Doe, A Dear, A Female Deer

The Little Sister

Two of 5-year-old Sophie's favorite little girl friends (also ages 4-5) were going around chanting, "No boys allowed! No boys allowed! No boys allowed!" Sophie immediately got serious and left the play, something I never see her do. I watched her watch them for awhile, and then she approached them with the serious look still on her face.

She confronted her little friends, told them that she didn't like them saying, "No boys allowed" and emphatically said that boys are just as good as girls and that she didn't want to play a game that would exclude them. They disagreed, but Sophie remained undaunted. Ultimately, the 2 girls went off to play without Sophie and Sophie sought out some boys to play with instead.

I really admire her for that. At age 5 she showed more strength in her convictions than many adults I know.

Success

You can use most any measure
When you're speaking of success.
You can measure it in fancy home,
Expensive car or dress.

But the measure of your real success
Is the one you cannot spend.
It's the way your kids describe you
When they're talking to a friend.

--unknown

Marian