Foley's Tales From Rainbrow Bridge: Einstein

 

The angels began to arrive just as the sun rose; those who knew him, some from Doggyspace, others from agility competitions. When I arrived to give the new angel the Rainbow Bridge Oath, there were dogs for miles around Hobo's Landing. They had all come for the same reason: To welcome a champion.

It was 17 years ago when a modest Einstein joined his family in western Pennsylvania. He had a lot of energy, which outstripped his parents' efforts to keep him occupied. Watching him jump into rolled hay bales, they knew he could be an agility champion.                                                                                       It was a perfect match. Einstein loved to run and meet people, and agility allowed him to do both. His parents made friends with others who, like them, were happy to give up leisure time to drive their dog around the country for competitions. They loved their little boy, and it filled their hearts when they saw him compete like he was born to it.

There are certain athletes meant to play, like Jordan or Crosby, and Einstein was one of them. He gathered ribbons like others gathered sticks: A true champion in every sense of the word.

But that did not define who he was because there were multiple sides to him: loving brother, faithful son, and great friend to the hundreds who spent quiet time hearing of his victories on Doggyspace where many of us, who had never competed for anything more than supper, lived vicariously through him. Einstien's travels brought him to many of their homes, where he charmed his friends' parents. And there were his competition friends, who never complained when he bested them.

As he aged, Einstien slowed, his body began to break, and it took five expensive operations to keep him mobile. He slowed down, as all great athletes do, then retired to live the life of a gentleman at rest.

Einstein lived far past retirement, although arthritis robbed him of his athletic ability, as it does all us. Einstein's parents promised him when his quality of life dipped, despite the terrible pain it would cause them.

 That time came this week. His parents set Einstien free, and all the pain, worry, and sorrow he felt about leaving the mortal side and his beloved family behind were, as he breathed his last, transferred to his parents, who need prayers now. Einstein is home, free of anything wrong that can touch him, but grieving parents are always more susceptible to them.

Einstein arrived at the Bridge in a rejuvenated body that he celebrated by running, jumping, going through tunnels, and around poles. For the first time, we all got to cheer him on in person.

Then he greeted all of us, those he knew in person, online, and by reputation. He didn't leave until he had a moment with everyone. It took three days. But that's okay. He's got nothing but time.

Now he is training for a new role, to be a champion angel for his parents, to pay him back for all they gave him. There is a lot of evil and sorrow in the world, but Einstien can outmaneuver it all.

Wherever he goes, he will be a champion.

Poetry Thursday

 

Once again, Angel Sammys and Teddys Pawetaton have provided us with a photo for Poetry Thursday.

Kiwi was depressed 

Doctors said the sweet Panda was stressed

They said, "He is carrying his pain in his chest

And we prescribed for him lots of rest."

But that didn't seem to do the trick

And they needed something real quick

Because Kiwi was getting sick

And the zoo would lose patrons and go broke, according to the arithmetic

A doctor announced what he needed was a friend

But putting him with another panda had previously produced bed-end

The other Panda he did send 

In-flight around the bend

They decided to try other animals, as Kiwi's pal

There was a kitty who told Kiwi to call him Al

And got thrown into the horses' corral

And Fluffy the dog was thrown into a different local.

Then, one of the experts suggested a toy

Which can often bring sad souls joy

And searching for something he couldn't destroy

They gave him a wooden pony so he could play cowboy

On a day Kiwi was exceptionally grumping

The toy pony at first caused Kiwi to start jumping

Then they started dancing and krumping

Then jumped on the pony and began humping

At first, the zoo owners were upset

But the appetites of the attendees he did whet

And from the humpings onset

Profits rose one hundred percent

Sometimes, you have to give people what they want

Even if it's something that no one should flaunt

But for people in the city looking for a Sunday jaunt

They could do worse than a Panda humping a toy pony like he's a sexual savant.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Beat This Caption

 

A natural practical joker Larry enjoyed leaving an upper decker 

Monday Question

 You may have to ask Mr. Google for help with this one.

Have you, or a pack member, either here or immortal, had a hurricane or tropical storm named after them?

I had a cyclone named after me in 2021, It did damage in New Caledonia. 

Lady Visits Doggyspace

 

It is sad when another member of Doggyspace, a website where I met hundreds of friends more than a dozen years ago, shut down in 2015, arrives at the Bridge. It is like watching a star cease shining while knowing it is one of the last stars in the sky, once shining brightly with thousands of them.

Today, after 16 1/2 years of roaming the mortal side, quite an accomplishment, one of my oldest friends, whom I met long ago in Doggyspace, left the human world to join the new Doggyspace that we built at the Bridge. I welcomed Lady as all her old friends lined the Bridge to greet her and to remember when.

Lady had been fighting off the dark angels who claim souls for the Bridge and managing her aches and pains for years. Her sweet young brother suddenly went to the Bridge two years ago, collapsing mid-walk. Lady knew her parents weren't ready for another loss and begged, borrowed, and stole two years of heartbeats until she thought they were ready and told them she was prepared for the transfer.

Lady shrugged off her hurt, tired, and old body and slipped into a new one when she was younger and not in pain, which was good because Tommy was still six, and Lady could barely keep up with him on the mortal side but was now ready, and they played together at full speed for hours.

Even with a renewed body, Tommy could still outrun Lady. She lay in the perpetual sun, and I took the spot beside her. I asked her if she had one wish: to return to Doggyspace.

I was in a wish-granting mood, so I
did a little magic I had picked up over the last ten years, and we were transported to Doggyspace.

Sadly, it had become a ghost town. The shops were shuddered. There was a Furminator jersey left abandoned. We did not stay there long. We went back to our new home.

Doggyspace is at the Bridge now. It isn't the same, but that is alright because a place doesn't matter. The souls living in at make a spot, and we will all be together again in Doggyspace and the neighboring Blogville.

Lady and I sat in the center of town, watching our friends play and interact as we did years ago.

It was a beautiful site

Nature Friday

 With Labor Day upon us I thought I wouldn’t be seeing any more new blooms but nature has a way of surprising us all and yesterday it surely did.

First, in Foley’s Garden, the front garden and around the fake rock covering the ugly stump garden, the Siebold’s Plantation Lily Hostas are in bloom. They were happy to pose for pictures.

And, for the first time in history the 100-year-old rose bush is blooming for a second time this year.

It is a good thing I like surprises because nature is full of then