Weezel

This past summer my oldest daughter found a pinkie squirrel in my back yard. She guarded it from my dogs and called for me to come see. It appeared he had fallen over 50 feet from a nest in a tree above him. he had a big dark knot on his head. I was sure he wasn't going to make it, but couldn't let him die. So we took him in, warmed him up with water bottles filled with very warm water, and got some puppy milk replacement from my work and a needle less syringe to feed him. I know a woman in wildlife rehabilitation, so I tried to contact her to see what else I could do, I left a message on her answering machine. The next morning, to my amazement, the little guy was still alive! I took him to work with me, so I could keep him on a feeding schedule. The rehabber I called the night before had contacted someone that specializes in squirrels. This person then contacted me. At first I was not happy she wanted to take him. Then I realized someone with much more experience could give him a better chance to survive. She came to my work and picked him up. She asked what I was calling him. I laughed and told her at first we weren't sure what he was, so we called him Weezel. The name stuck. This wonderful woman took such good care of him. Squirrels don't open their eyes until they have all their fur, and are pretty mature. That is why we never see baby squirrels running around. This lady sent me pictures many times via the Internet, and we sent long emails back and forth about Weezel and many other things. She is such a nice person. Then a sad email came. She informed me Weezel was blind. Under normal circumstances she would be required to have him euthanized. Her job is to prepare wildlife to be released, and a blind squirrel could never survive on his own. I was devastated! But this wonderful woman was more upset. She had him with her every day for weeks, nurturing him. She contacted her mentors and explained to them how she couldn't have him destroyed. They worked together to obtain a license for Weezel's Mom to keep him, and she worked with an educational facility that has a program to allow Weezel to participate in an educational program with them. I am ecstatic! Weezel lives in a safe outdoor enclosure, He collects his nuts in his nesting box. He is playful and does almost everything a normal squirrel does except for the obvious. He can't jump from branch to branch in trees or balance on power lines. he has some sight in one eye, but he could never survive on his own. Lucky for him, his new Mom sought him out, and fought for his life. I guess there are some heroes left in this world! Thank you Carol! Also, thank you to all the wildlife rehabbers out there that spend their time waking up all hours in the night to feed their "babies", that spend countless dollars on formulas, feed, crates, bedding, laundry, exterior enclosures, Veterinary bills, on and on, and in the end selflessly say goodbye to their wild friends. Never earning a penny for any of it. It is my honor to know you exist!

Goodbye Dr. Waste

I learned tonight my dentist died yesterday. She was in a car accident, she crossed the center line and hit a Semi head on. The doctor's 11 yr old daughter was with her, she was treated and released. My thoughts and prayers go out to her husband, 3 children, other family members, and co-workers. The place she worked is a very warm, friendly, close knit family, I've always felt very welcome there. My last appointment with her was this past Monday. I don't presume to know Dr. Waste in any other manner than professional. I really never held a complete conversation with her. She was always working very hard and I always had fingers in my mouth, but from my perspective, she was a very wonderful woman. Horrible things like this make me wonder why good, honest, hard working people could possibly die so young and have so much intelligence and integrity left to share, all lost. When some really stupid, leacherous, greedy, monsters that offer nothing to anyone, and exist just to hurt and annoy good people, get to continue on. My mind just cant wrap around the concept of how this type of thing could possibly be "meant to be" or that there is a reason for such a horrible turn. My only act of respect I can offer to her, in her memory, and to sate my ire in one's words that spoke to me regarding this doctor's death. If your first contact with her was on a professional level, if you weren't her daughter, mother, cousin, or friend...her name was Doctor to you! She worked very hard to earn her title, use it with the respect she deserves. I will miss you Dr. Waste.

Some people emit beauty

Other than my family, my animals, my best friend, and a few other people in this world, I see a lot of ugliness. Mean people doing nasty things to fulfill some kind of self worth issue they have. My general philosophy is "I hate people". Today I saw some people I like! I groom animals for a living. It's not a very clean or risk free work environment, but even on the worst days I can walk away knowing what I did helped an animal, that is usually a rewarding feeling. Many days I wish I could just do my work and not have to deal with people. Today I saw some truly wonderful people. I groomed a dog named Cocoa. She is a sweet little Yorkshire Terrier. Her "Mom" brought her to me in a plastic carrier. She was really afraid, so I was comforting her, leaning into her "safe place". I noticed a picture taped to the inside wall of her crate. It was a picture of Cocoa and a little girl. How awesome is that?! That little girl wanted Cocoa to know she was there with her! SO Beautiful! After work I went to the mall. I had to get one of my favorite things, a soft pretzel with cheddar cheese, yum! As I sat in the eating area, I was watching people. (big time Voyeur, I am) There was a elderly man sitting alone, uncomfortable. His walker sat behind him with his coat draped over the center bar. He seemed to be looking at nothing in particular and waiting for whatever. A man approached him, introduced himself, and started a conversation about his wife shopping as usual... could he join him. I loved his olive green parka with the fake fur around the edge of the hood, and the bright orange liner, and I loved the big smile on the older man's face as he accepted the "parka man's" company. What a beautiful thing to do! As I turned my attention elsewhere, there were two elderly ladies walking hand in hand toward the out door, they stopped as one helped the other place her sheer scarf over her head to protect her from the wind and cold outside. Any bad that may have happened today was swallowed up in the joy these people gave me without ever saying a word to me. Top that with time spent with my best friend and family, today was a fabulous day!