I wrote a my blog called Fabulous and over 50.

I was doing some pretty heavy duty bitching about being over fifty and how much it really sucked.

But I would like to take this time to acknowledge that there is a flip side to getting older and it it is not always a bad thing. This is because I am finding that there are many simple pleasures that come from the small stuff life has to offer. I could never really appreciate these things up until this time of my life.

This being in in stark contrast to the the intense excitement and constant stimulation which was required when I was younger (like just a couple of years ago.)

For example, up until this past year, I never had a plant that lived longer then a few months. I have recently come to discover, plants and flowers will grow and multiply if you give them water along with tender loving care!

Since this revelation, I have slowly come to appreciate the beauty of growing my own small garden.

This beautiful garden also gives Pinky(my faithful companion) immense pleasure. This is because he considers this natural habitat of flowers to be his own exclusive master bathroom.

Each and every morning, Pinky loves to stroll through my very pretty garden to take his morning constitution.

Pinky likes to help me out with just about everything I do, and the gardening is no exception.

Like clock work the little scamp will add a contribution to my very pretty garden. As a token of his appreciation for the beauty of it all, he will each and every day, like religion, take his morning dump. This of course is always smack dab in the center of the flowers, steaming in the cool morning air, made fresh for the new day....

My first set of pictures that were taken July 17th will show that; (As usual, Pinky will guide the tour)

My Sweet Peas never bloomed, so I had to rip them out, they appeared to look like really ugly weeds. I got about three flowers out of the whole mess.,

My Dahlias are a new strain of dwarf flowers unknown to me. For some reason the flowers them selfs never got any bigger than a quarter.

My successes are the 6' Sunflowers as well as the thirty miniature Rose bushes that I have planted over the last 6 months.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with myself and pondering about a recent observation. This is something that I have been noticing. It is occurring more and more lately when I happen to be talking with my friends.

I can't help but observe that while conversing with my friends, that they really do not seem to be much interested in discussing anything else except for topics that relate only to them selfs... I don't mean to be offensive....just making a mental note about it.

It is a good thing that they are self absorbed, I would much rather be listening about what they have to say than talking about myself.

This is because it takes too much of my effort, along with the fact that I don't feel very interesting lately, so since they don't seem at all interested, why bother?

However, there are times now and then that I do like to chime in and add a little to the conversation...But it's not hard to notice, that when I do speak up they are not at all interested...

Because when I am speaking, it seems that most of the time I can expect to be interrupted during mid-sentence, so that they can change the topic and move the discussion back towards them selfs.

Okay....I can only assume I am boring or long winded or something of the sort. So where do I seek solace for this lack of interest?

You guessed it, I turn to my loyal court of doggie admirers!

Behold;
Because in their world I am Queen

To them;
Each and every word I utter is received with rapture!

They wait;
My every move anticipated....

For I am the center of their universe......

I am their Love Object!

With adoration such as this;
I bring to you my court of faithful listeners!.....

I was performing my usual routine this morning, which was getting up, checking out my e-mail, reading my blog and doing whatever else I do that passes so much time each and every morning....

Later on as I was getting into the bathtub, I happened to look down at my left wrist and and I noticed that I had lost my little green jaded bracelet.


This was not any special bracelet, it was a cheap pseudo jade green beaded bracelet that I happened to pick up while shopping at Whole Foods Market.

The beads that make up the bracelet resemble hippie beads, and each of these different colored beaded bracelets that were offered for sale had different spiritual meanings.

In the case of the little green jade bracelet that I chose, a piece a paper which was included in the package, made the promise that just by wearing this trinket, I could expect great wealth and good fortunes to flow through the universe and make its way to me.

SOLD, I bought it.....Because;

Where the flowing of great wealth is concerned, I consider myself to be in a long term drought and it could said that my rivers have run dry. You see, I did once have great fortune and I lost it, so anything to help get it back is worth trying in my book.

Hence I decided this was just the right bracelet for me, bring it on, I was game, up for trying anything, any help in this area would be much appreciated. It was a cute little green jade bracelet..so why the hell not.

So there I was this morning sitting in my bathtub......contemplating the day ahead and thinking all the things you think about when your taking a bath;

It was then I happened to look down that I noticed that the bracelet was missing from my wrist ....I then realized I was missing the little green jade bracelet.....somehow I had lost it....Damn!

And then the familiar litany began...That little mean voice that resides in the back of my head started loudly harassing me by shouting;

"That's typical.....what a looser, you can't even keep a bracelet that represents money and is good luck...You lose everything, figures, your never meant to have money, what a looser...."

This self inflicted mental abuse rambled on in my head for a minute or so, and then I just shook it off. I continued on with my bathing, still somewhat disgusted at myself while still wondering where I might have dropped the bracelet.

I then got out of the bathtub, wrapped the towel around myself, wrapped one around my hair, brushed my teeth, puttered around and then started to put my make-up on.

And thats when I found it.....There it was.

At that moment I then realized that the little green jade bracelet had never really lost to me, because I found it in a different place, a place that I never thought to look.

Somewhere along the line without knowing what I had done, I inadvertently switched my little green jade bracelet from my left wrist onto my right wrist.

So you see..... I had really never lost that little green jade bracelet, it just never occurred to me to go looking for it someplace else.

This is Senator Puppy with Aunt Patty....He died recently and Patty is devastated and so deeply depressed. I am posting for Patty because she cries every time she tries to write this memorial.

I wrote a story for her and so far it's my very favorite blog that I have written. It is called "Do Dogs Go To Heaven?" I was hoping that I could give her something that would make her feel less sad.


But she continues to morn the death of Puppy, the pain is not diminishing and she feels incredibly lost without her long time companion. Puppy and Patty had a very special and deep bond that makes it so very hard and difficult for her to bear his passing.

You see, Patty has a bad case of MS that has gotten worse with time. Puppy has been her trusted helper dog who has seen her through the bad times, and now he is gone. This has left her feeling so lonely and she does not know what to do without him.

For fourteen years Senator Puppy made Patty the center of his universe. He cared only for her, his loyalty steadfast and he gave her a lifetime of commitment.

I am posting this picture for Patty because she wants him to be remembered. So for Patty I am leaving him this message;

Good Bye Sweet Senator Puppy; You were my wonderful and most true friend. I will miss you and always love you....We will meet again another time at another place... I promise.

Oh Patty......Oh Patty.....

Come out; Come out; From Where Ever You Are......

Where did you go?
Why are you staying away?

so sad... closed up and surrounded by four lonely walls
the shutters pulled tight
as the fear darkens the windows of your mind

We Miss You

Love
Holly

Oh my God; Thinking to to myself while strolling into the Sheraton Hotel's Four Point Lounge in which to attend an adult "singles party" for the over 40's crowd.

While at the same time I am asking myself; How in the world did I get sooooo old and where did all the time go and how did all of this happen to me? Over 50 and going to a bar....Nope this can't be.... For a moment there I seriously felt as if I was having an out of body experience, I guess I was in momentary denial!

But let's wait a second and let me digress. At this point you're probably wondering; What does being a single woman over forty (okay, okay...its over 50 but who will ever know?) have to do with a this Spiritual Dog Blog, and what does being over fifty have to do with dogs anyway?

Because just recently my friends have shared their concerns with me over the fact that I would rather hang out with Pinky (my dog) than seek out the attentions of eligible single males. They go on to continually remind me that so long as I chose to hang out with my dogs, I will never garner myself a real man.

When they tell me this stuff, I'm thinking ...Like I should care or something?

I guess when stepping back and contemplating the situation, maybe it could seem like a problem to others who are less dedicated to their dog families.

I want you to take a look at this picture and then honestly answer the question; Wouldn't you rather stay at home and watch TV with this little, cute, cuddly dog as opposed to venturing out on the town night after night, prowling around fruitlessly and in vein, hoping to find your soul mate?

This is a no brainier answer for me because dog company, at least in my experience, is much more preferable than male company....

Okay, now its out there and I've said it.... I know it sounds a little weird to some people, but I am sure there are many of you who are reading this blog that can relate to spending quality time with one's dog.

Anyhow, now that I have laid the foundation and your starting to know where I am coming from, I will get back to the story of my fun night with the girls...Their frustrating attempt at getting The Dog Lady of Sassafras Street a man;

While socializing at this singles party, it must have been apparent to my fellow single males that I had become somewhat rusty at social skills. This is very understandable since I had not been out lets say ohhhh about five years or so...

I know they thought this because when I was returning from the restroom, from a much needed break from the festivities, and while passing through the reception line, I was handed a piece of paper called Darlena's Do's and Don'ts. This was a set of social rules as to how one should conduct them self's while attending a social gathering of this sort.

Augggggg... I ask you; How looooooow can I go?

Yup, I was handed a list of rules telling me of the Do's and Don'ts of dating for those of us over 40......They were handed to me by a bald pudgy fellow. To make matters worse he told me to read them carefully because it was obvious that I was in desperate need of some party instruction.


I don't think "O", Oprah's magazine which is written for the mature female, has this in mind when they write the articles about being fifty and fabulous.

Do you think it can it get anymore humiliating?

These rules which I am posting in an abbreviated form, are for those of you who also might also benefit from this valuable information.

So friends, the next time if I ever chose to venture out again, and if I expect to get any male attention.... here's what I gotta do:

1) Be Sociable!

2) Women----DO NOT CONGREGATE all night long with "groups" of women...either standing or especially sitting. Try to be yourself, or with one other woman, and moving around---though not so fast that you can't be caught....

Augggg again.......can you believe this?

3.) Place yourself where the action is....closer to the buffet line, closer to the dance floor, closer to the bar service area. Don't hide in the corner, where no one will cross your path.

Well; This was a crowd that obviously like to eat and the buffet line was jammed! Defiantly the hot spot of the party and the place to be!

4.) When you see an interesting looking stranger glance at you from "across a crowded room" (eye contact)---SMILE!! (a smile is probably the most inviting gesture you can make.

I felt like my cheeks were cracking because I was trying too hard.

5) Whether your having a drink at the moment or not, put a glass of something in your hand anyway, it looks more sociable.

I continue to be appauld...

6) Do not allow yourself to get tied down to one person for th entire evening, if that is not what you want to do. It's certainly appropriate to say something like "Ive enjoyed talking with you, but we are supposed to be here to mingle, so I guess we'd better get busy. Nice talking with you". Then move on.

Never even considered it....not an issue.

7) Don't forget that only YOU can determine weather you will have a good time.

Now what can I say to that?

8) The people staying home won't meet anyone, so you've already taken a step in the right direction. How you have a great time and meet lot of new people.

And lastly...I missed a great night at home in front of the TV with the Pinkster, Orbit and Chico. You guessed it my dogs....

If you are over 50 and this sounds like fun visit the website www.SinglesinSanDiego.com

They say that man's best friend is the Dog.....Orbit and Pinky (Pinkster) show that a Dog's best friend can be another Dog!

I still have my story to tell , it is about those very strange few days when my sweet Orbit was almost lost to me...


I wanted to also get a picture up of sweet Orbit because he is doing so well. He is starting to play with Pinkster (the sweet Pink Pinkerton) and doing all the things he was able to do before he became so injured.

But imagine this when you look at his picture......Orbit could NOT move, he was completely paralyzed, totally incapacitated and it was all my fault.

It all started the day I decided that we would go on a family hike to a place where I had never been before....which ended up to be a mountain that was pretty much a straight up push for all of us.

Orbit is no spring chicken, being nine and a half years old and on top of it, like the rest of us, he was carrying around some extra baggage, lets just say about twelve extra pounds.

So needless to say that after starting our uphill journey Orbit became very tired. I noticed his walking had started to change, it was obvious that his hind legs had become very weak and it looked as if he was having a hard time holding up his hips.

I cut short the hike, but the damage had been done. About three days later he started having very bad back pain, and by the seventh day, he was down for the count.

He eventually lost use of all four legs, bladder control, and could barley move.

So when looking at sweet Orbit's picture, imagine me HAULING him outside to go potty on a regular basis....I had to keep doing it because it is really bad for a dog as big as Orbit who weighed in at 120 lbs to not make #2...if ya know what I mean.

Not only was I single handedly taking him out to potty, I was regularly changing his pillows because he would pee on them since he could not move. I was washing pillows none stop for seven days.

I was also feeding him and giving him his water whenever necessary.....I can easily say that my home for that short period of time was a regular Dog Hospice!

In retrospect there can be no wonder as to why this very turbulent time actually brought the two of us closer, because it was the both of us, just me and him, fighting off that ominous and impending doom that was so obviously lurking while waiting for just the right time.....

As the those days slowly came to pass, there seemed give rise to something unsaid between us, it felt as if we had made a mutual pact. There was now a shared agreement; We were fighting this thing together and we were in it for the long haul.

As I watched for seven days I observed my Sweet Orbit's continual struggle with his impending death. I could see he was fighting for his life...and I could see he was not at all ready to let go and leave me.

Because we were together and we were standing strong it eventually gave him the necessary strength to say "NO WAY" to that dark and oppressive day when death came calling.

I truly believe that it was on this day in which Orbit made the conscious decision he was NOT ready leave us. For Orbit... under no uncertain terms and conditions was he going to leave his home sweet home or his best friend Pink Pinkerton.

So my sweet Orbit fought back, O so hard; And on this day when death did come calling he said; "Go away and come another time" and I know when he did this....he did it for me.

When I first started writing to this blog it was to suppose to be about healing dogs with Chinese medicine. It was going to be a teaching vehicle for my website... Which by the way, is about Chinese herbals for pets and it is an extremely interesting topic.....but that's for another time and place.

However for right now and for some unknown reason, when I write, I am compelled to write about subject matter that is taking a direction that has a mind of its own.

My mother thinks my stories are depressing.

When excitedly I told her of my new blog, which is going to retell the story of the day "death came calling", a tale about my sweet Orbit's recent near brush with death....

She said; "O Holly"... and it said with such disdain.....Hmmm, and I thought it was a fascinating idea!

If I do say so myself, my chosen topics could be considered is a tad weird.

But I can't help it, I find that I am having the urge to write the stories about esoteric incidents that have happened to me throughout my life.

I have to face the fact that writing about dogs and their spirituality could be considered little eccentric...Case in point; My last blog explored the quintessential question; "Do dogs go to heaven?"

I can understand where that concept came from. You see... Sargent Puppy, my Aunt Patty's sweet dog had just died. Simultaneously my pooch Orbit was sick had just taken a turn for the worse, he was close to death. So it was only natural that the question be asked... and I believe I gave a good answer.

But there is more to be told about those days of uncertainty. They were very dark days and something unusual took place during that awful time while Orbit's life hung in the balance between life and death.

I believe it is an interesting tale worth telling...Because I know for certain that during this particular time "death came calling."

It's a difficult story to retell and I need all my story wits about me so that I can convey the essence of the moment. But right now it is getting late, I'm tired and hungry.... So I will call it a night and pick it up later.

This is a question that I spend a lot of time thinking about. In fact, I am more angst about my dog's spiritual future then I appear to be about my own inevitable passing.

I believe these thoughts so often cross my mind because I cannot imagine that those pure spirits whom are no longer with me, Frankie, Lucy, Morgan, Corey, my free spirited Blue, and just recently, The Senator Puppy, will never cross my path again.

Pondering about this makes me sad to think that we may never know each after this life time....I am even more worried as of late, because my very best friend of the last ten years, Orbit, is nearing the end of his time on this earth and it is making me sad, but should it be?

As I contemplate about Orbit going to heaven, I want to know for certain that when his time does come, he will be moving on to a place that makes him feel happy and safe.

As each day brings me closer to his passing, it strengthens my resolve to want to know the answer;

Do dogs go to heaven?

Especially right now, because Senator Puppy, my Aunt Patty's very beloved and loyal friend of fourteen years has just past away.

I made the quest for this answer for both me and Aunt Patty. I am hoping this knowledge will give us both comfort. Each of us will rest much easier knowing that our best friends, who have touched our life's so deeply, will be in a place that gives them their just rewards for a lifetime of dedication, undying loyalty, and unconditional love.

I began the trek by seeking out people whom I considered to be gurus with respect to dog spirituality.

The first expert I consulted was a mobile Veterinarian that came for a house call, because Orbit was recently very sick (he is now recovering very nicely). She (the Vet) was quite an unusual character... fifty something, a pale complexion, flowing smock, long dark black hair, and very piercing bright blue eyes.

Because of her striking appearance and her aura of confidence, I felt sure she was just the exactly right professional to give me clarity. I felt her interesting demeanor as well as her being a licensed Veterinarian made her more than qualified to answer the question ... and here was her reply;

"Of course dogs go to heaven, I have no doubt what so ever, you see, God gave man dominion over all the animals on this earth, but he did this before Eve took the bite out of the Apple, which then, as we all know, is when evil began to prevail and that is why man now mistreats his animals"....

Hmmmm... I said to myself, that's a different slant, while at the same time trying to keep an open mind. I contemplated this answer, but at the end of the day I decided it was not what I was searching for.

Later as it turns out, I found out she was not a regular Veterinarian. She was in fact a euthanasia Veterinarian. In other words she was Dr. Death and my sweet Orbit had obviously been very close to getting the answer himself and that was not what I had in mind!

The next professional was my trusty dog sitter. Sandy is very earthy, long blond hair, friendly light blue eyes, she exudes a very motherly aura...And she sleeps with at least ten dogs every night!... With that very special credential, I felt confident that she would be an excellent source and could without a doubt shed some light on my dogs spirituality... And here was her reply;

"Of course dogs go to heaven, without question". She also very animately told me this; "When I die, I only want to be where the dogs go and nowhere else" ....

This was a good answer, but too brief and somewhat lacking in substance.

I knew there had to be more to the subject ... This answer only magnified my powerful need to continue the quest...I knew that I must press on with my journey because I was yearning to find out the one true answer; the one single answer that was going to make me feel as if it was "just right".

Finally, and without really knowing it, I stumbled upon what I had been searching for and it was quite by accident.

You see my Aunt Sally who is Patty's sister, speaks to and on a regular basis to .... "the other side"....

Yup that's correct, and you did read that right...

My Aunt Sally claims she communicates with the spirit world...She does this by working with a friend who speaks with those of us who no longer walk this earth. In other words, Aunt Sally's friend confers with those that have already reached those pearly gates! Armarna, Aunt Sally's friend is a clairvoyant medium!

Now getting back to the point as to how I discovered my answer to the question to "Do dogs go to heaven?"...

One day I just so happened to be having a random conversation with my Aunt Sally. At the time of this particular conversation, I made mention to her that I was on a quest and I was telling her what my experts had replied to "Do dogs go to heaven?"

Well, I was not at all expecting Aunt Sally to have any input , you see, because in my opinion with respect to my dogs and their spiritual disposition, she didn't have any viable credentials in which to offer expert advise. Except to say, she is a huge dog lover, but still I didn't think this made her particularly qualified to provide any type of input with respect to my dogs and their potential spiritual well being.

Not at all expecting her to shed any light on the subject, our conversation began to take a turn that was quite unusual and unexpected...

After hearing what my experts had to say Aunt Sally then proceeded to tell me, and this was spoken with very strong conviction and with a forceful urgency; That under no uncertain terms it was FOR SURE dogs go to heaven!

Hmmm, as I mentally scoffed at the time...and then with a tad of skepticism in my voice I inquired..... "and how do you know this? "

Aunt Sally began to speak with confidence and without a qualm as she informed me that "Amarna her clairvoyant has been in communication with her dogs...specifically her dogs that have died and that are now in heaven."

Armarna claims she has been communicating directly to Chocolate and Wrigley who passed away years ago!

She continued on to tell me that Amarna also told her that "the dogs are very happy and content......Chocolate and Wrigley are ready and waiting for the day when it will be Aunt Sally's time, since it will be Chocolate and Wrigley that will be the guides on her journey to heaven. "

At first, and I am sure you must agree dear reader, this appears to be a very wacky answer. I dismissed it as I am sure you have just done.

But much later, as I reflected upon this very strange exchange, I surprisingly realized that this very far out conversation had actually provided me the answers to which I was seeking.

I have now come to fundamentally accept that this unlikely explanation is the "right" answer.

Because it is this particular answer that makes me feel the most satisfied, and it is this answer that seems to be the most fitting, this answer which makes the most sense, and the one answer that I want to be true.

When thinking about it, doesn't it sound just right and feel enormously comforting to believe that when comes our time to leave this earth, it will be with our loyal and trusted pooches from our past , those sweet innocent dogs, our old friends, who will lead us through the path of darkness and into the valley of brightness... While providing us with comfort and kindness along the way? Just as they did while they were here on this earth, giving us comfort and kindness along our way...

It all comes together when you think about it like that...I have found my answer, how about you?