And What of These Children?

So I am lying on the floor this morning... realizing that it is the day after Memorial Day (which screws up everything from your banks, to your mail and your trash pickup service) and suddenly I hear the sounds of the children.





In my half groggy state I glance up at the alarm clock beside Chris' bed. It is nearly 9:00 AM. Why are they here? Shouldn't they be at school?





At that point Chris swings his feet off the side of the bed and goes to make the kids some breakfast. Dazed and confused... I look over towards the calendar.





In big scrawling letters the words "Last Day of School" are scribed on the block that represents last Friday. I contemplate the meaning of this. Children... at home... all day long... for the next eight weeks.





SO. If my writing seems a little, um, terse for the next period of time. Now you might understand why. I have grown to love many things about my life in Sedona. I have NOT YET come to appreciate the children with whom I live. Chris, John and Rabden keep telling me if I would stop barking and growling when the children startle me... they'd pet me and play with me. I am not yet sold on the concept...





Chris and John, meanwhile, seem elated to have little playmates this morning. As I speak they are all gathered around in the Arizona room watching "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" and singing that mind numbing theme song from the film. An odd movie indeed! Imagine a car that floats and flies !? It is absurd. Like a dog that... wait, huh?! Never mind... I digress!





Today I pray for a stress free summer in a house of children (where we dogs now have to share our attention and treat quota!)

Love ya'll like a loyal mutt (should) love her kids!!!

-Joy Beagle

Child: "Oh please... oh please let summer last for ever!"

Dog: "Oh please... oh please let summer be over soon!"

Another Inspiring Pup

As a Buddhist canine - I am obviously saddened by the euthanasia of the animals, but I just loved the heroism of this dog (pictured at left) who was so willing to protect children:

Tue May 8, 2:53 AM ET
Nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier George is being honoured with a posthumous bravery medal for saving five New Zealand children from an attack by two pitbulls.
The medal from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) comes after US Vietnam veteran Jerrell Hudman said he was sending his Purple Heart medal to George's owner after hearing of the dog's bravery.

George, who had a heart problem, won fame after defending five children from the pitbulls in the small North Island town of Manaia a week and a half ago. The two pitbulls rushed at the five children on the street, prompting George to charge the much larger dogs as the children escaped.

The Jack Russell was badly mauled by the two pitbulls and later had to be put down because of his extensive injuries. The two pitbulls were also put down.

The SPCA medal is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.
"George was a very brave little dog who almost certainly prevented severe injury, if not death, to at least one of the children," SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said. "It's truly tragic that he paid with his own life for his instinctive act of courage."

Hudman, 58, of Austin, Texas was a US Marine for 30 years and said he decided to send his Purple Heart to George's owner Alan Gay after reading the news on the Internet because the dog was "a little warrior".

The Purple Heart is awarded to those killed or injured fighting for the US military.

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Love ya'll like a tired little Jack Russell heart: overcoming its own pain and pumping love into the world where there is so much suffering.

-Joy Beagle

Show Pony

Every now and then you see an animal do something that is just spectacular. Today a friend shared this with me and I felt the need to show it here:

Here is the marvelous "dancing horse" Matine with her rider Andreas Helgstrand at the Grand Prix Freestyle - if you have the time watch all 6.5 minutes. This is just a beautiful beast in motion and the fact that the performance ends with an ode to New Orleans vis-a-vis "Voulez Vous Couchez"... well it brings tears to my little ole New Orlean native eyes!

And a 5,6,7,8...


Love ya'll like a one trick pony... turnin' tricks to beat the band!!

Love,
Joy Beagle