Don't put off things that really matter

My sweet pal, Duncan has been on my mind lately so I decided I'd blog about him. Duncan came into my life about 15 years ago and little did I know how much he would change it. Don and I had been married a couple of years and we had just bought our first home. So logically, the next thing is to get a dog! Hey, the two selling points of our first home were the fenced back yard and the sound proof "music" room in the basement.

So we agreed we wanted a border collie. Don was spending a lot of time in England then and greatly admired this amazing breed of dog. I am an animal lover of all sorts but also thought they were the best choice for our active lifestyle. So we started our search for our new family member. After several phone calls and lots of papers filled with answers to our questions, we came across a breeder in Wisconsin who had a current litter we could visit. We hoped in the car and headed to Shannon Wolfe's place in Lily Lake.

When we arrived, we were surrounded by her pack of border collies and confirmed our decision of getting one since they were the most beautiful dogs we'd ever seen. Then out comes this litter. Nine little 3-4 week old black & white pups. Gee, how will we choose? After playing around with them and watching them interact with each other and their mom, my attention fell on this little "split-faced" fella, off by himself playing with a rope attached to the bumper of a car. Something about him... Since they were still too little to go home, we tentatively settled on that one but we'd come back next week to look again.

The next week, Don falls for the most perfect little girl. I was still attached to the little split-faced boy but really liked this one too. The parents were Strut and Boots so the puppy names were all shoes. Keds, Gucci, Nike - things like that. But since we settled on the little girl, she was immediately named "Meg." So once again, off we went to wait another week or so before picking her up for good.

During the following week, Shannon gave us a call and said that someone wanted Gucci (the split-faced little boy). Since we were interested in him first, were we really set on "Meg"? She was just making sure before selling him. We said we were still set on "Meg" and then made our arrangements to pick her up that weekend.

On the way up to the farm that Saturday, we stopped and picked up a crate and assembled it in the parking lot of the store. Popped it in the back of our sedan and headed north. When we arrived, the puppies had been moved up the hill a little and in an outdoor place. We quickly picked up Meg and started to talk about "what to expect once you get her home" kind of things. We walked back to the car to put her in and head out but as we did, I stepped back after loading her in the crate and heard a yelp from the ground. I looked and a puppy had followed us to the car and was trying to get my attention. It was "Gucci." When I asked why he was still there, Shannon said, "well, it didn't work out with his new person so he's still here."

After a brief conversation with Don, we quickly asked Shannon "Can we take him too?" Now, years later, I realize that it is not recommended to have two puppies at the same time, let alone from the same litter, but I didn't know that then... So after some discussions - we loaded my sweet "Duncan" in the car and headed for the small suburban back yard and to a life that would never be the same.

Every being that comes into your life changes it forever but every now and then, we have that special someone who tugs at our heart and enhances our life in ways we never thought possible. For those of us with many dogs we call this being our "once in a lifetime dog." Duncan was mine.

I can't imagine not taking him home and not sharing 9.5 years with him. He made his transition in September 2004 and I miss him every day. As I type this, my eyes still fill with tears as they ache to see him again. I am in contact with his spirit and am continually guided by his presence, but being human, I crave his physical body in my life.

I learned many things from Duncan but the lesson that I think that has made the most profound effect on both our lives is to be in the moment - don't wait until things are "perfect" or until you have time. Take a chance and do them now - the details will sort themselves out. You may not get this  opportunity again. Things come into your life at the time you need them and if you listen to and follow your heart (not your logical "head") you will have amazing things happen.

Support the Arts: Kiss a Musician

I recently spent time with family in Kentucky. We normally spend time there over the Christmas holiday and are usually so busy with all the festivities, we rarely spend any time relaxing and getting back in to the culture we were raised in. This recent trip was pretty busy, but we had more opportunity to feel like we were "home" than in previous jaunts. One thing that resurfaced is the importance of music in everyday life in Kentucky. Both my family and my husband's family are full of musicians. Either by singing, playing guitar, piano, auto-harp, flute, banjo, dulcimer, "spoons" or just flipping on the radio, everyone loves and relies on music in some form.

We went to the Berea Arts Festival and while walking the paths looking at the beautiful "locally" created crafts, we were serenaded by several very talented groups. Most singing songs from Appalachia and bringing up deep memories of my childhood.

This got me thinking about something I take for granted. The effect music has on my life and probably for most of you. Some of my very first memories are of my dad softly humming - something he still does today. Nothing in particular, just a melody that was running through his head at the time. There was never a family function without someone strumming a guitar or plucking away on a banjo. And almost always, most of us kids dancing in the center of the circle while the adults laughed and sang. Such happy hearts!

Every church service (and there were a LOT) was always full of the songs from the weathered hymnal books. Sometimes people just sang an old song from their heart and everyone just followed along - no books needed. Most of the piano players played without music. They just play "by ear" we used to say. More appropriately perhaps - they played by "heart."

There is no human culture without music. Music is the "universal language" including that of animals. Think of the whale "songs" and the songs sung by birds. Or even the buzzing of insects on a hot summer night. The phrase "music to my ears" suggests that what is being said is pleasing to you - like music.

So I challenge you all to incorporate music into your lives. More than you already do. Search through your collection for that favorite song you haven't heard in a while. For some of us, we'll have to dig out the vinyl records! Turn it on and crank it up. Use music to soothe you at the end of a long day or to wake you up on an early morning. But be sure to really listen with your heart to the music. Connect with it and the emotion you are experiencing. It will do your body good!

I found an old "All-State Band" t-shirt when I was home (I was a huge band geek). It had a cute phrase on the back that said "Support the Arts: Kiss a Musician." Many of us are lucky enough to be able to sing and and perhaps play an instrument. Others never learned but appreciate the art. Which ever way you fall - be sure to express your appreciation to those who entertain you with their music ability. It is a gift that we should honor each day and open our heart to the music within.