"Dreams in a Drawer"

Greeting from my comfortable hotel room where we’re still waiting for the severe snowstorm that has been forecast for Colorado Springs for days. It's been an eventful couple of days for me as I drive to Colorado Springs to rescue/adopt a new dog ... When was the last time I could say I had an eventful couple of days away from home? A rhetorical question ...

On Thursday, I left Minneapolis at 7:25am. I drove 5 hours before making my first stop at 12:15pm in Lamoni, Iowa. I always stop at The Amish Store and browse their handmade goods; this time I ate lunch there. One of their restaurant' specials is a Maid Rite loose meat sandwich. One and done and I hit the road again at 1pm. I reached Kansas City, Missouri at 2:30pm and then my adventure really began.

Once I headed West on I 70, I was in driving territory new to me. I was driving through the state of Kansas - East to West. Along the route, I passed through the state capitol, Topeka, then Lawrence where I could see the University of Kansas from the interstate; after that was Manhattan and finally Abilene, home of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Ike’s childhood home. I was on a mission so I didn’t stop in Abilene, but depending on circumstances, I will on the way home. I really enjoy visiting Presidential Libraries.

I arrived at my first overnight destination of Salina, Kansas at 5pm. One of Eisenhower’s greatest legacies is our Interstate System of roads; a huge sign reminded me that I was “Driving Ike’s legacy.”

I make a point of taking in the sights around me as I drive, though my new Honda Accord kept judging me, leaving messages such as “more steering required” and “driver’s attention is wandering”. My Accord, which I’ve named Gideon has been a splendid performer. My current average gas mileage is 37.6 mpg. Go, Go, Gideon!

Among the outlier highlights of Day 1 were: seeing a hog'’s snout appear from under a grate in a semi-truck that passed me, appreciating amazing cloud formations, musing on the lack of snow and mild conditions. (Temps during the day varied from 32 to 62 degrees.) I spent my night in a mediocre La Quinta Inn in Salina. They had suspended their usual hot breakfast due to Covid, so it was grab and go. Along the way, most folks were wearing masks and observing social distancing. It was a good feeling.

On Thursday evening, I drove to historic downtown Salina and ate at a restaurant called Marinelli’s Little Italy (think Buca de Beppo) and took pictures of a historic theater that had just been restored to considerable glory. 620 miles were under my belt ...400 miles to go to meet a new canine companion!

Day 2’s drive began in Salina, Kansas in a downpour of rain. The rain stopped about an hour into Friday’s journey. There isn’t much in far West Kansas to look at, or for that matter, in Eastern Colorado. I think local law enforcement was counting on drivers going on mental cruise control. The speed limit was 75mph; I was frequently passed by folks doing 90mph. I stuck to 77mph. I admit when I saw someone who had dangerously speeded past me pulled over by the cops, I gloated. I saw at least 10 law enforcement units from Salina to Limon, Colorado where I stopped for gas.

In Limon, I stopped a Sinclair gas station. I hadn’t seen one in years. Of course, I took the prerequisite photo of the green dinosaur figurine out front. Once I left Interstate 70, I headed toward Peyton, Colorado on Hwy 24. It’s mostly a two-lane road through several small towns.

As I drove, altitude rising, it became densely foggy. When I reached Peyton, I could barely discern the outlines of the town? The question mark is because the town was a hiccup in the road, consisting of a ramshackle general store and a post office. My phone wasn’t giving me directions (remoteness, I guess), I couldn’t get hold of my friend Maggie by phone either, so I drove right by the turnoff for the National Mill Dog Rescue. I drove into the outskirts of Colorado Springs (I did 400 miles between 6am and noon) then stopped for lunch at a Black-Eyed Pea. I was surprised they still existed.

Maggie got hold of me soon after and I backtracked to National Mill Dog Rescue. It’s a splendid facility where Teresa, the founder, and a crew of volunteers and workers rescue Commercial Breeding Dogs from unimaginable squallor, give the dogs the medical attention they deserve, provide rehabilitation services and put up their charges for adoption to loving homes. The application process to adopt is rigorous and thorough. NMDR’s goal is for the dogs to never have to suffer or go without love again.

I have been following NMDR online for five years; the organization is even more impressive up close. It was delightful to meet several of the folks I’ve only seen in videos in person. Teresa is warm, loving and committed to the cause. Maggie, my friend from “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” days ,and her honey Greg drove up from Sweetwater, TX and we reconnected at the Rescue. Maggie is the person who made Georgie possible for me.

Maggie and Teresa gave me a tour of the facility and then it got down to meeting the dogs. All of the dogs I had my eye on had already been adopted. I spent time with three dogs: Cupcake, a shy 5 year old miniature poodle; Thunder, a 6 year old Pomeranian with birth defects and expressive eyes and Munchkin, a 2 year old Pomeranian who weighs 4 lbs.

As most of my friends know, in my building the dogs cannot weigh over 30lbs; I am also taking into consideration which dog will fit well with the other 8 dogs in our apartment community. I sat on the floor in the pens and played with the three dogs and I’ve narrowed my choices down to two: Cupcake and Thunder (who should be renamed).

I left NMDR about 4pm and was checked into my room at The Wingate by Wyndham at 5pm. I quite like my room and if I have to hibernate due to a snow storm, I’m in a good location. I’m a mile from The Air Force Academy and hope to get out and explore a bit today and tomorrow.

I apologize in advance for this long post, but I’m chronicling a journey to adopting a dog who will be my companion for the next 10 or more years. I did not make this journey as a lark, nor will it be in vain. Regardless of the outcome, the 1007 mile drive was worth it!

Road Trip - Day 3: Ciao, Bella!

As forecast long before I hit the road, Colorado has experienced a late Winter snow storm this weekend. As I write this at 9am on Sunday morning, the snow is still coming down heavily; it began yesterday around 10:15am and it’s kept going throughout the night ... Hefty winds are resulting in a lot of blowin’ and snowin’! So much for “Springing” forward! More like the last gasp of this Winter!

 Because of the weather, I mostly stayed in my hotel room yesterday and wrote a lot. I did brush several inches of snow off my car in the afternoon and drove around in the immediate area. I didn’t need anything, so I mostly drove through parking lots of big box stores talking myself out of going in. Around 5:30pm, I walked through the parking lot (I’m in an area of a cluster of hotels) to an Outback Steakhouse for dinner. The staff was doing a good job of sanitizing and social distancing and my food was good.

 Saturday wasn’t without welcome interruptions. I spoke several times with my friend Maggie, once with Teresa, NMDR’s founder, with my sister Colleen and niece Caitlin, with a couple of neighbors from Wyndris who wanted me to know that another neighbor, who had moved out of our community a few months ago to Assisted Living, died yesterday. She was a lovely lady; Aphasia had robbed her of her voice. RIP Maureen ...)  

 I ended the day with a call to my dear friend Joe Varga, singing Happy Birthday to him. This was Joe’s 76th birthday and we merrily chatted about this and that as we always do. It was a lovely way to end March 13, 2021.

 Texting kept me busy, too.The hot topic was, of course, the choice I have to make as to which dog I am going to adopt. After much input from friends and family, after carefully consideration of which dog will be the best fit in my building with the other eight dogs and most importantly which dog will be the best fit for me, I’ve decided to adopt the five-year old miniature grey poodle currently called Cupcake. The name was randomly assigned and I will be changing her name to Bella.

 Bella weighs 8lbs and is very sweet. Some refer to her as timid, but I prefer to think of her as quiet and cautious. When I first sat down in her kennel, it was easy to overlook her. She was sharing the kennel with three outgoing Maltese who were fighting for my attention. All three were spoken for, so unavailable to me; still, it’s a joyful experience to have three small dogs clamoring for your attention, offering kisses. Yet, Bella was my focus ... Every time I walked past her kennel, she made eye contact.

 Bella is an observer. She carefully watched the play from the quartet’s bed, steadily holding my gaze, assessing the situation. Her eyes said, “I am paying attention to you; but, I’m not going to fight for your attention. This is all too new and I need to figure it out.  I’m learning; I’m shy; I’m worthy; you will learn to appreciate me.” Bella’s intelligence is obvious, her beauty, a more subtle sort. She’s smart and will learn quickly. 

 Well, Bella ... introvert-to-introvert ... know I will take good care of you for as long as I live. We will quietly and patiently work together to form a lasting bond. I will earn your trust. I am paying attention and I choose you. I see you; and yes, as your new name translates in Italian, you are so beautiful to me.