Folks love Bela once they stop being afraid

Bela luvs her monkey man!

New friend Vanessa

A family who loves Bela. Taken at the Burrel Boom race in November 2009

Killa thinks he is a wild beast! They really adore each other, but she is teaching him well

Libertad

New colt at stables. Our last one of the season and way later then the guys thought he would be. They had said 'oh he should be here round first of DECEMBER'. NOT!!! But I do think he was late, he was huge and had a leg stuck back, but with a little effort, I got the leg forward and 'SWOOSH' he landed in my lap, soaked me in his momma juice and then tried to get up with in like two minutes, rear legs still in Momma. He looks two weeks old all ready. But he is a cutie!

More of the perfect Poo

Mexico in the sea

Mom and Poo on Jet ski

Jackson and Poo on Wilsons dock, Lake Norman, NC

Lake Norman NC, Shane and Dana Wilsons dock

Killah Bean

They really do love each other!

No she didnt kill him

Bela had such a hard time with Whoopis death, that we talked of getting her a puppy. We came across one at a Cuban vets office, he told me he was Peek a neese, I told him he was as much Peek a neese as I am! But he was very cute. Like a wind up toy, pick him up and he stopped, put him down and he zoomed all around. Very funny lil guy. This was December 21st.


Chuck and I and Bela came to an agreement that if he was still there Christmas day, then he was meant to be and if not, well, he wasn't.

We had a crazy Christmas morning at Blancaneaux Stables as one worker never showed up and another was an hour and half late. But we got a dozen horses ready for rides and cleaned all 22 stalls before we left for our afternoon party at Robersons.


Beth and John have become two of our dearest friends and they hold some amazing shindigs. There were over 50 folks there and an unbelievable spread of every food imaginable! Wow did we eat. Later that evening, we rolled out to the 4Runner, loaded up with Dottie and Dennis whose car had broke down and needed a lift home, and trucked down the hill to see if 'Killah' (the name had just happened the first day we saw him) was going to be Belas Christmas present.


Well, Christmas wishes do come true as Beluador will tell you. He was there in his little wire cage, all by himself, the last of the litter. I tried to talk the woman down from her $150 Bz price, he was a total mutt after all, but she would not budge. So...$75.00 USD later, 'Killah' was on my lap and heading home.


Bela was so shocked. She wasn't sure at first if it was a squeaky toy or a long haired rat, or if it was real at all. But she loved him instantly as we did and they are such a team now, it great for her and he adores Bela.


This blog will all ways be Whoopi's, but as life goes on, others will join us. Stay tuned for many more pics and updates.

"WHOOPI"!!!

"Poozie, Poo, Whoop, Momma Dog, Whoopster"

'Hardwood Whoop De Doo'

1993-2009

The most precious little soul on earth

I find it to hard to write a memorial. I have tried and I can never do her justice. She was with me a third of my life and a large part of who I am. No other dog will ever take her place and I do believe she will be my lil angel always.

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the adress and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked...'Just a minute,' answered a frail elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a moment the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pill box hat with a veil pinned on it, like someone out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. the apartment behind her looked as though no one had lived in it for years. All of the furniture covered in dust clothes. There were no clocks on the walls, no knick knacks on shelves or utensils on counters. In the corner was a cardboard box full of pictures and glassware.

'Would you carry my suitcase to the car?' I took the bag to the cab then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we slowly made our way to the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness, 'It's nothing,' I told her, ' I just treat passengers how I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh your such a good boy' she said. When we got in the cab she gave me an address and then asked 'could drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way' I answered quickly...'oh I don't mind, Im not in a hurry, I'm on my way to a hospice.'

I looked in the mirror, her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she said in a soft voice, 'and the doctor says I don't have very long.' I reached over and turned off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?'

For the next two hours we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived as newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she would ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first of sun was creasing the horizon, she said, 'Lets go now. I'm tired.'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was all ready seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you,' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I answered.

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers' I responded. Almost with out thinking I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said, 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand and walked into the dim early morning light...behind me a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life...

I did not pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessy lost in thought. For the rest of that day I could barely talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver or one impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run or honked once then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think I have done any thing more important in my life.

We are conditioned to think that our lives revolve great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may think as a small one.

People may not exactly remember what you said or what you did, but...they will always remember how you made them feel.

There are times I think back on, that I wish I had changed the way I responded. I hope the 'not so great feelings' were always bested by the good ones.