A little un-sung hero by the name of Charlie...

A Veteran's Day tribute to my husband and his puppy, Charlie...

Steve's first rescue puppy! And never even realized Charlie was a rescue puppy until I pointed it out to him. In his mind, he was saving a puppy's life. Well, that's what rescue is!

We've shared this story countless times to once a Marine always a Marine Marines, meaning buddies Steve served with in Viet Nam, his Platoon members of Charlie Company, 1st Battilion, 26th Marine Division aka C-Company. As well as to family, loved ones, friends, dog lovers, etc. Today I decided to share an abbreviated version on FaceBook. In essence, there are really two stories. Charlie's story, and my rescue Terrier, Maggie's story. The two overlap in a unique way, and it's so incredibly unique that only God could have pulled the strings to make it happen. Now, Maggie's story, I'm still not ready to share. I've wanted to from the time I started this blog, but lost her almost simultaneously. It still hurts even though, I have my three Springers, Chance aka Mr. Puppy, and Sydney, my baby girl, Sydney and now Miss Summer. Maggie and I spent a lot of time together after I became home bound and she watched after me even though age was catching up to her. I hope one day I'll be able to share more about her without a pang in my heart. So, for now... it's Charlie's story to be told. And of course, there's more to his story, but there's no need for me to write a book about him tonight. :)

While on patrol in a village south of Da Nang, Steve caught sight of beautiful tiny black puppy all by himself. As he shares the story, he says he had a split decision as to whether to pass him by or pick him up. His heart won over and Charl...ie was put in his right side pocket of his utlities. He was so small that when Steve climbed into the helicopter to fly out of there, Charlie rode in his helmet. He spent a good deal of time in that helmet until he grew out of it!

Charlie was with Steve for three months and touched the lives of many Marines in his platoon. There are men Steve served with that are sometimes foggy on Steve's name... but every single one of them remembers Charlie. We've discovered posts on forums and bulletin board about him!

At that time in Steve's tour of duty he was the Platoon Radio Operator. So, many knew Steve, but more guys knew Charlie.

Charlie made a huge difference in Steve's life during that time, as well as the men in his platoon. He boosted morale and had many daddies when Steve was on patrol or night ambushes.

Charlie's grandparents back home in Albemarle, NC were very taken with him. In order for photos to be developed Steve had to send the film home, so they fell in love with Charlie at their first glance of him in Steve's arms. They sent him a flea collar and leash of his very own, so he knew he belonged. He also had care packages with plenty of chewies, dog biscuits, treats, and rubber toys. He received his vaccinations from Corpsman. And, he dined upon C-Rations.

It broke Steve's heart to leave him behind when he rotated out in January of 1969. And he never knew what happened to him. For over for over 30 years he always wondered what happened to his little Charlie. I did, too from the moment I heard about him and saw his pictures. A few years ago we finally reconnected with the Marine Steve left him with, sadly to find out that a month after he left, Charlie got tangled up in some trip wire and sadly was killed by friendly fire. That was not the ending we wanted to hear, however, it's the beginning of my Maggie's story... all I'll share now is that she found me and was covered in red clay. Red clay just like the clay Steve dug into in Viet Nam.

The only photo I've ever shared with friends on the net is the first shot; the album cover. In tribute to Steve and Charlie, I've added the others. They're aging, so I finally scanned them into one of my external hard drives for a back up and safe keeping. Please note, my husband was only 20 when he was Viet Nam.




Photos were taken both north and south of Da Nang, HiVon Pass and Namo Bridge, and parts in between.

Sometimes even more videos are needed...

Sometimes videos are needed...

to tell the story... there are about 200 stories here... not all dogs that were taken into rescue care are Springers...

Two links:

First one is to the story Kansas Local NBC affiliate ran KSHB Channel 41... a few inaccuracies and it's slow loading, plus there is a commercial, but please watch it. It will set the stage and give you all time to prepare yourselves for the Youtube link I'll post behind it. Still waiting for word re. transport. But these operations are huge, with an amazing spirit of cooperation -- all for the love of the dogs. Please pass on the links and pray for the dogs and rescuers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

News article...

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=452759@kshb.dayport.com&navCatId=4295

Youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOxbDzUTJa8

Taken the first week of September 2008 of Sydney playing in the irrigation system. Just a few short days after we brought her home. She was just over 8 weeks old at the time. She was found by a good Samaritan on a road in Atlanta at only 3 weeks old along with a sibling. The God sent finder, took baby Sydney and her sibling to a wonderful vet who worked hard to save both of them. The sibling, sadly didn't make it. From the vets she came into the care of ESRA, and into the loving home of her Foster mom. Her Foster mom once lived in Australia and has very fond memories of her time there -- and gave her the name Sydney. She just emailed me the other day, shared with me her special reason for gifting Sydney with her name. She also told me that she'll always hold Sydney close to her heart. She takes each rescue into her home, and readies them for their forever home. Heart of gold she has. Each dog that comes into ESRA's care has a new life and a new beginning much like me when God came into my life. And, God gave Sydney to me. I know this to be true. If you'd like to read more of her story... click into the label Sydney.

Goody! The word is we'll have snow on Sunday!

The weather guys are calling for 3 to 6 inches, but I'm in the area where it really looks like we'll get the six! There is nothing like a fresh snow to lift one's spirits... that is unless you live in a place like Ohio. I did a long time ago... and I adored the snow, but it can get to the point when the freezing part gets old. I don't like being cold. Not one bit. Rarely will you hear me complain of the heat down here in the South unless it goes over 100 degrees. I enjoy being warm that much!

I lived in the mid-west years and years ago, and seriously my hands and feet still haven't warmed up yet. The first "few" snows of the year there were truly wonderful. Exhilarating. Gorgeous. It can mask a lot, yet be so much fun. However... the blizzards...oh my word! What an experience for a person like me having grown up in Virginia Beach. Then, when we'd get snow after snow that would all pile up on top of each other. A few inches could turn into 3 feet in no time. Yet, the cool thing is, for the most part driving was easy because the roads were constantly being plowed. Now, on the sides of the roads and streets you'd see snow piled a mile high from all of the plowing. And, if you had to park your car on the side of a street, like I did my very last year there, the thing would have to be dug out. Sometimes more than once a day depending upon how much snow was falling. I remember a few times when it was so cold... the below zero kind, when I would have to put my boots on every hour, coat, hat, mittens -- the whole nine yards... tramp (or would that be tromp -- can't tell sometimes with the pesky word retrieval issues)... anyway, to start my car every hour during the night like clock work, just to keep my battery charged.

Sorry for the side track... my main purpose in this entry was to actually embed a slideshow of the photos I took during a recent snow (first one in years here actually) of the marvelous Hamlet Historic Depot/Museum Train Station. I'd post a link for the place, but their web site is pitifully lacking at the moment, so I'll spare you.

The station was built in 1900 -- Victorian Era and is a jewel to behold. The only one in the nation. I adore Victorian architecture ever so much. One day, I'll share a story about the depot and the tracks behind it... what they mean to me as a gal with railroad roots going back a couple of generations.

But, onto the slide show... as usual remember, I take shots in progression and don't do edits. It's a method I truly believe God as led me to use to help "rewire" my brain and tap into the left side creative part... it helps me learn as I go back and look at the pictures... and it also takes pressure off of me to try to capture the perfect shot. I'm not perfect... don't claim to be, or wanna be -- too boring. Although I do wholeheartedly aspire to take better photos and eventually not learn, but retain certain camera settings in my brain. Stuff like that used to be SO easy for me... it's a wee bit better, but I'm not fully healed there yet...

Again... onto the slide show huge apologies for all of the ramblings. Ramblings are better than rantings though!

And, if you wouldn't mind, please keep me in your prayers... the reason I needed my spirits lifted is I've a few family members I've been a bit worried about... and I've also been very human today. I can't tell if it's due to stuff going on around me and in my life, or due to side effects of the KeppraXR, so I've taken myself off my medication. My intuition told me to, yet, I don't recommend it, but it's the only way I can tell and I've an appointment coming up very soon with my Epileptologist. So, the timing logically feels right. The 24/7 neuro activity I feel never goes away anyway... even though the cluster issues seem better. The headaches are practically non stop and the pressure, rarely do I not feel it. Also, since my words have improved... in writing and verbally... creative ideas are popping into my head all of the time now... and if things remain better, it'll only prove to encourage me... I'll know for sure Project Rewire is working. It'll build my faith stronger. And, I bet I'll be even more intriguing to my Epileptologist. At least I'm not boring. I've also had those 85 to 100 Springers who have come into ESRA's care are heavy on my heart, too. Hoping to hear some news of a transport soon.

One thing led to another last night and today... didn't keep my thoughts "up" and I fell into the trap of thinking about my upcoming appointment for the pre-surgical type MRI and consult following afterward with my Epileptologist at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital Medical Center on March 13th. I'm honestly looking forward to it and so hope we'll get some answers. Even though I believe God is healing me... I still want to know what's going on up there, so specific prayers can be said focusing directly on the problem area in my brain. My Epileptologist isn't exactly sure I even have Epilepsy because I'm so interestingly atypical. Often, I don't allow fear to set in... and I didn't today. Today was more of I don't know what to feel, since I don't really know what I have. Once I know... it'll make more sense and with my personality type... my goal in life is to understand everything, everyone... even me! On the ever search for truth.

So, enough about that... this pic below was taken of me inside the Depot/Museum... it's one of my favorite shots ever taken of me. That is a speck on the mirror and not on my sweater. And, there's a bit of a blur to it -- it's an old mirror. One last thing... just so ya'll know, as much as I post pics of myself here and on Facebook... I don't like photos of myself or putting myself out there in public period. Just believe God is leading me to put a Face on Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders -- Brain Stuff. Same thing with ESRA. Well, this entry has been all over the place... kind of like the way I am in my head right now.


P.S. One day I'll talk about my conquering black ice in Seattle, WA. Sliding down the east hill in Kent sideways. Yikes! But, God's natural snow artwork on the glass ceiling panes at Shakey's were amazing. Those of us with Temporal Lobe misfires (and mine are mid temp) never stop remembering... or trying to remember. Thanks for the prayers!

85 to 100 Springers Need Help Now!!!

http://www.springerrescue.org/sponsor/specialneeds/KS.html

Written left handed on my white board -- prayer list -- project board. For any of you who may be reading my blog for the first time -- I'm right handed. Labels links will tell you my reason for writing left handed on my white board... this is NOT about me... it's about the Springers in need...

The story in the link above will be updated soon to show that 85 to 100 Springers are being confiscated and given into the care of the English Springer Rescue America group at this very moment. They'll be vetted, altered, and immunized prior to going into foster care next week. It'll be the beginning of a whole new life for them... well, actually a life... because in a puppy mill there is NO real life for these precious dogs.

Sydney update...

Long post warning!

To the good news first...

My little girl is growing like crazy and is well on her way to catching up with the size of her big dog feet. She's now over 14 pounds! She's happy, content and couldn't be sweeter. She's so smart, she just blows my mind. She knows as much as I love her, I don't care for puppy kisses or dog licks -- so she boink boink boinks me on the nose with hers. It's all kisses for her dad, though! Her potty training is going great. She sits pretty for her cookies, in fact, she sits pretty for everything she wants now. It's the cutest thing ever! However, if one even tries to go near her food bowl at meal time, look out! This is something I'm working with her on daily and am beginning to see improvement. There's no doubt in my mind she remembers when she was starving, which understandably makes her very protective of "her" food. In a way, I'm kind of glad of it. Her foster mom had shared with me that she wasn't overly interested in her food, well... that's changed now! She'd eat 10 meals a day if I'd allow it.

She adores her puppy toys, but not nearly as much as she does Chance's cherished American Kennel Club grown up doggie plush squeaky toys collection. Some he's had for years and were still in perfect condition. All of a sudden, with a little help from Sydney they've become frayed, but the generous big brother he is... he's been more than happy to share his toys with her. In doing so, it's spared him much physical wear and tear from her needle-like baby teeth. Smart guy! So far his list for Santa this Christmas includes a replacement Canadian Goose, a Mallard duck, a big Squirrel, a Hedgehog, a Crane with rope legs, a Moose, and... and... and...

Sydney knows how to have fun on her own, too and keep herself occupied. I believe she has dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast or figure skater. You should see the way she cuts flips in the air, springs and tumbles as she runs around the house. She lands places and clearly has no idea how she got there!

We've recently discovered that one of her favorite things in the whole world to do is play with an ice cube. If she hears the ice maker in the fridge door run, she comes flying as fast as her paws will take her on a hardwood floor. When she slides in, she sits pretty, with her head cocked looking directly at the ice maker wiggle waggling in anticipation. When she gets her cube she'll plant a front paw on it, then literally skates from room to room. Once the cube begins to melt, she'll bat it around to make it ricochet off the cabinets and/or furniture, then dive for it and do it all over again. When the cube becomes a puddle trail, she'll come back to the fridge and sit pretty staring at the door to ask for another. She's too darn cute, not to give into her!

The not so happy news is that we had her to the vets last Friday and again on Monday. She's now had all of her vaccinations, however, we're battling Demodex. At first we thought she had an eye infection, which prompted her visit to the vet a few days earlier than originally scheduled. He said it was either an infection, which he's seeing a lot of right now due to the high volume of "biting" gnats we have in our area. Or, a Demodex break through. He wanted to spare her from a skin scraping if at all possible, and a bad "vet" experience, so he gave us some antibiotic eye drops to try first. He said to give it about a week. But, there was no improvement whatsoever over the weekend. In fact, it worsened. They were able to work us in on Monday and unfortunately, Demodex it is. (This is something I do know much about. Given Sydney's rough start in life, I'm seriously concerned about her immune system and have been... I know it's deficient. She wasn't allowed enough time with her mom to receive those vital "maternal" antibodies to keep her well and healthy. So, this coming Tuesday, we'll be consulting with a DVM specialist we take our "special needs" cats to, to help us boost her immune system alternativelyand treat the Demodex condition without any further toxic dips.)

We also had a bizarre thing happen at the vet's office. One which could have proven to be a nightmare. Sydney's dad certainly was in the right place at the right time. Without a doubt! It was one of those times when I was really thankful that I don't go anywhere much on my own these days. And, those are rare, I tell ya! The office was packed out. Sydney was a little scared, but she was sitting quietly in my arms. We kept hearing a splitting/cracking sound that we thought was coming from an office on the other side of the waiting room wall. My seat happened to be under the television that's been hanging on the wall for years. It's one of the old heavy 20" portable console TVs. Well, you know what's coming next, don't you? There was a crashing sound as the TV began to pull out of the wall. Sydney's dad instinctively knew what was happening and quickly told me to tuck back, while he literally pushed the TV away from me in the air as it was falling, just as it was about to tumble on top of us! There was no doubt in the minds of anyone in the office that it would have crushed my skull and Sydney's, too. As Sydney and I sat there kind of in shock and frozen, everyone else was thanking God that we'd not been hurt and calling Sydney's dad everything from Superman to a guardian angel. The whole thing happened in a second or two, but he said to him it felt as if it was in slow motion -- as if time had slowed just enough for him to react. The only injury was a cut to the palm of his hand from the sharp metal bracket that had given way. That TV was so heavy it took two vet techs to pick it up to cart away! God, in deed, was looking out for us in the person of Sydney's dad...






My little girl has had a lot going on the past few days and hasn't felt well at all. She's been lethargic, very timid... needy... and has wanted to be either in my lap or beside me every moment. So, I've not done much but be with her. She's not had her typical puppy energy to play as she normally does, which has been worrying to Chance. In his own way he's tried to help her. He's patted her with his paw -- woofed at her to initiate play, and he's let her stretch out beside him on the sofa. That's huge -- he shares his spot on the sofa with no one!

But, I'm relieved to share that she's finally getting a little spunk back. Yesterday we spent some quality time outside birdwatching, checking out what remains of my summer flowers, walking in the woods beside my house and taking pictures. We were in the yard when her dad came home from work, she was so happy to see him that she crawled into his patrol car. Glad I had my camera in hand... as if she didn't already look pitiful..

We just came in from a potty break moments ago, and Sydney has initiated some playtime with Chance... they've been running loops around my bedroom and have now taken it downstairs. I hear puppy giggles and big brother woofings! Yep! I do believe she's just about "back" to herself! Yay! What a relief!!!

(It's heavy to ponder, but I'm at the point I believe her tummy was never full from the time she was born, until after she was rescued. For she and her little sibling that didn't make it to be so carelessly and cruelly thrown away at only 3 weeks of age, un-weaned... was her momma dog still alive? Is she still alive? What happened to her other siblings? Is Sydney the only survivor? Neglect is torture, in my book. Was she and her litter mates so neglected, was her original "owner" or "breeder"... so convicted he/she just couldn't do the right thing? Or, were they THAT ignorant? Was this their first shot at breeding? If it was, they surely failed, didn't they? Will they try it again? I hope and pray our good Samaritan keeps an eye out for that spot on the road.

As I've mentioned before... I'll always wonder. As she's grown the scars and bald spots she bears from the insect bites, sores and wounds have gotten larger, too. They've become much more noticeable. The worst are on the top of her head, yet, we're seeing more now, in other places. To me... they reflect her strength of spirit, courage, and will to survive. To me... they help to share her story... which leads to Chance's and Maggie's stories, too... and my kittie's stories... about animal rescue... about how wonderful rescued pets are -- how thankful they are to be loved and become a part of a forever family... about how wonderful Springers are... And!!!... about the mission and incredible work the English Springer Rescue America organization does. Over 1,000 volunteers in 40 states with 8,500+ Springers rescued since March, 1998 to date. Thank the Lord above, my little Sydney was one of them.)

My Sydney... my miracle puppy!

Sydney is mine all mine!!!

Sydney was found by a good Samaritan on July 16, 2008 on the side of a road along with her sibling in Atlanta. She was in horrible condition -- covered in flies, fly eggs, fly bites and had sores on her body. (If you look closely, you can see a few spots that are still in the midst of healing or that the fur hasn't come back yet.) There was evidence that her tail had been rubber banded and it was nearly necrotic. Meaning the tissue was nearly dead. She weighed only 1.4 pounds. Fortunately, the good Samaritan took her to a wonderful vet that pulled her through, but sadly her little sibling didn't make it. The vet estimated her birthday to be June 27th, which means she was only 3 weeks old when she was tossed away. That's unimaginable to me. What's even more unimaginable is that it very well could have been a "bad" breeder who discarded Sydney and her sibling in such a heartless manner. It breaks my heart that animals are treated so terribly. It breaks my heart that her little sibling was lost forever. But, I rejoice that ESRA, the English Springer Rescue of America organization was contacted on Sydney's behalf and she soon came under their care and was placed into a loving foster home. Through volunteer members' compassionate efforts and commitments of help and assistance ESRA has successfully placed thousands of Springers in loving homes.

I applied for consideration to adopt Sydney. I'm thrilled to say she became mine! My pilot and I were approved to be her forever home. This past Saturday we round tripped it to Atlanta to pick her up and bring her here to her new home.



She is amazing! She is happy! Her spirit is strong! Her will is incredible! For those things I already love and respect her. And, she is only an 8 1/2 week old puppy.

I know without a doubt, that God chose her to be mine. Needless to say, there will be many more photos posted of her as time goes on.