Twoson and Chaz

January 2000:

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO GRREAT

I think that many people search a life time for a best friend. That friend is a person who overlooks your faults, loves you for what you are, and holds deep secrets you choose to share, as sacred thoughts entrusted to that one special person. As adults, and more sadly as adolescents, we find that those precious best friends are hard to find.

But, have you ever known the love a pet pledges to his or her master? Have you been blessed to see the eyes who look at you with true understanding as if, though in silence, to say, "I know. It's O.K."? No other thoughts need to be analyzed or muddled up in human words, because if you have had a pet to share a portion of your life, nothing more needs to be said.

I will tell you this, however, that I have always been blessed by these special friends... my dogs and cats who have added so much to my 46+ years.

A friend from church, Carrie, told our family about GRREAT.

GRREAT introduced us to Twoson. Mind you, we did not expect to take home that gray-faced gentleman who was ten years young. We thought that a rascal from Charlottesville would be our adopted child. But, God knew that Twoson should be with us. He was my "Foof-Foof " and was a delight to everyone he met. He knew no enemies. His kisses never stopped. Our family was richly blessed by his presence. In May, we buried Twoson in our backyard, near the butterfly bushes, at the age of almost 16. A bronze angel, baby's breath, rose carpet, and cat mint provide a gentle cloak on the ground above him. I know that his spirit is playing "catch that frisbee" in Heaven.

Now, thanks to GRREAT, we have another charmer, Chaz. He has a natural smile and a special "conversation" when you scratch him just the right way, that many would interpret as a growl. He loves his stuffed elephant, dinosaur, hedgehog, and bunbun and never fails to greet us at the door with one of these "friends" in his jaws. For one year now, Chaz has truly been a great joy in our home.

Thank you, GRREAT. Because of you, we were able to offer a loving home to the homeless. And, in return, we have been richly blessed and know the pleasure of true friendship. Our dogs, in their separate times, marked the beginning of the best days of our lives. I think that we should all strive to be the humans that our loyal pets think that we are.

Sincerely, Mary

Post Script ... In November, we found out that Chaz had a cancerous tumor in his forehead. We were devastated. Today's date is January 7th and earlier this week Chaz left us to dance with the angels. Two places in our hearts belong to Twoson and Chaz ... and always will. As it has been said, "They will not go quietly, the dogs who've shared our lives."