We are making our way towards Glacier National Park, slowly. Some major plans have changed though, just within the last few days. The idea was to meet my friends Shirlee and Doug and their kitty, Missy from Alberta, Canada, at Glacier and spend a week there together. After our week, we would go into Canada. We reserved camping sites next to each other at St Mary Campground a long while back. But due to circumstances beyond anyones control, that won’t be happening. They won’t be coming to Glacier, but we will still go there, and when we leave we will be going to meet them in Canada. They have some favorite camping places they would like to share, and I’m looking forward to camping in those places with them.
Tuesday night we spend at Wolf Lodge Campground, about 8 miles east of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
We have full hook-ups so we dump, take on water, and gratefully use the air conditioner. The temperature reaches into the 90’s.
As I write we are at Bumble Bee Campground in Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
There are no hook-ups here. It’s ‘only’ in the 80’s today, but it’s humid and rain is expected by noon.
It doesn’t happen.
It’s quiet with only bird sounds. I see only one other occupied campsite and later when we walk, I see that it’s the “Campground Manager”, who doesn’t seem to be anywhere around.
So we are along with the peace and the beauty…. with the birdsong and the breeze in the trees….with the scent of pine and wildflowers….with the gently flowing stream.
There is no cell or internet service, which at first alarms me, but then calms me.
It lends to the magic. I don’t suppose there is so much magic that time might be standing still…or turning back so that our stumbling old bodies might be fresh again…that Joy might ‘jump for Joy’ again. I’ve cried a few times today as I’ve watched her struggle to stand or as I’ve seen a back leg give way as we walk.
I’m not ready to let her go. I’ll never be ready. Looking for…acceptance…for when the time comes. I can’t help but notice that she has found acceptance. She handles her newer limitations with such grace. In her aging she’s still a sweet, inquisitive, loving, joyful child. Since she has been with me, depression that often bothered me has been gone for the most part. She has constantly brought joyfulness into my life.
And when it comes right down to it, isn’t Joy as good as life gets?
Peaceful Joy.
I turn and look at Shiloh. “Oh my gosh! What happened sweetheart?” His face is swollen and he looks Oh. So. Sad.
In the picture it doesn’t look as bad as it was!
He doesn’t want me to touch his face. He must have been stung by at least one bee. Both sides of his face are swollen…it must be painful! His breathing seems ok, no respiratory distress. I give him Benadryl for the swelling and possible allergic reaction, and also a doggie pain pill. He has no trouble swallowing the pills inside the Pill Pockets. Poor Baby!
Later I notice the sky begin to darken, the temperature drops slightly, and I feel dampness in the air. It’s going to rain. I begin preparing for that, closing JR’s windows, move my chair under the awning, and bring my Benchmark map of Idaho, my journal, and the binoculars, inside.
The rain is gentle and there is no wind. It continues until sometime in the night. I see lightening one time, and the rolling, crashing thunder that follows, resounds throughout the mountains and sounds like some monstrous being out there, smashing it’s way through the wilderness. The dogs are frightened and I don’t blame them. I’m glad it only happened once.
At 4:30am I awaken with the birds. There is already plenty of light in the overcast sky. We are approaching the summer equinox, so days are long.
I make my special coffee and take it outside to greet the morning and the birds. The rain was cleansing and the air smells fresh and good.
Raindrops linger on the leaves.
Morning reflection….from JR’s back window.
Joy and Shiloh come outside. After their breakfast we start our morning walk.
So small. So tall.
We go to a water hole so the fur kids can take a dip.
Refreshing!
Morning has broken….
(later we go into the little town of Smelterville, and I post this blog!)
Wandering Spirit 
Oh Micky…I want you to know that my heart hurts for you (and I shed a few tears) as you face the reality of Joy’s aging. I know the pain you feel, and send you several virtual hugs!! I also know you don’t have to be told this….but enjoy every second you have with her…and know you and she are in my prayers. When you speak of the “peace and beauty”..the “magic”, I feel myself drawn into your world, and “feel” those things of which you speak. You are amazing!! Hope Shiloh has recovered by now. Be safe & happy, my “spirit” friend….
Hi Pat (Freespirit)
Thank you for your kind thoughts and your prayers. Yes, Shiloh is doing better…we all are. We were all having a kind of down day. Down days happen, on the road or otherwise.
took me awhile to answer since I was without connections…that’s remedied now, as we have moved on.
You are amazing too, spirit sister, and I love your poetry!
I can relate to your feelings re Joy’s aging. My beale Missy was a rescue, so I don’t know her age, but it saddens me to see her struggle to get up from lying down, and she occasionally stumbles during our walks; but her waggy tale and snooping nose tell me she is still interested in life. So sorry about Shiloh’s swollen face, and you are probably correct in your conclusion of the cause; hope Shiloh gets better soon!
Hi Eileen,
Thank you for understanding and sharing about Missy. It’s really really hard and there is just no way around it.
Yes, Shiloh is doing much better. The swelling has gone down and he’s not requiring pain med now.
They suffer so silently, but they suffer, just like we would.
Dear Mickey, You are amazing, and so brave. My 80# dog and I tried to get through the gate at the same time and now I have a swollen r knee, so I can sympathize c Joy. Old age is not exactly the golden years! Paul has a sister in Coeur d’ Alene, beautiful area! Stay peaceful! You’re in Native American land! Marie
From: Wandering Spirit To: paularnoldac@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, June 9, 2016 11:27 AM Subject: [New post] Contemplation In The Forest #yiv6977679043 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv6977679043 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv6977679043 a.yiv6977679043primaryactionlink:link, #yiv6977679043 a.yiv6977679043primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv6977679043 a.yiv6977679043primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv6977679043 a.yiv6977679043primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv6977679043 WordPress.com | onewanderingspirit posted: ” We are making our way towards Glacier National Forest, slowly. Some major plans have changed though, just within the last few days. The idea was to meet my friends Shirlee and Doug and their kitty, Missy from Alberta, Canada, at Glacier and spen” | |
Hi Marie, Ouch! I hope you feel better soon!
Yeah, I have my aches and pains too….just in general, no dog related wounds lately, but I had my share of those when Joy and Shiloh were younger.
This is beautiful country for sure. The whole Idaho Panhandle, and now we’re into Montana. Mountains and trees and winding rivers…what’s not to love. Being close to these things makes me feel like I’m part of them….and we all are really, aren’t we? One with the land, the rivers, the trees…each other. If we could only remember….
I just want to say that your writings in your blog are well received. I can actually feel what you are describing, see the beauty of your surroundings and am traveling with you in my mind’s eye! I so enjoy your blogs and look forward to reading each and every one! Keep them coming and travel safely! My prayers go out for you, Joy and Shiloh for health and safe travels! Callie
Hi Callie, I’m so glad you are here and traveling with us. And there is so much beauty for us to see out here between the earth and the sky. Sometimes it’s hard to take it in…
Thank you for your good thoughts and your prayers, I do appreciate that.
It’s always so heartbreaking to watch family, friends, & pets age, decline, & suffer. It’s a little easier tho with grace & acceptance.For us, be grateful for the loving memories.
Yes, words from one who would be having first had experience…thank you Glenda.
I could just feel the dampness and smell the air. And as I took a big breath in, I got a bit teary eyed. So precious are those companions to us, and us to them. Absolutely precious…
Hi Cindy. Yes, the perfect words for them. Precious companions.