MOM IN BIG TROUBLE NOW!

Bhindi Here. Mom is in BIG, BIG, GINORMOUSE TRUBBLE!
The Housing Inspection is Wednesday...

And the only thing she's cleaned around here in two weeks
is her hair! And she didn't even do THAT until LAST NIGHT.
So she was supposed to go to bed early because Edwin is coming up from Seattle early and staying late before taking the bus back
then going to work on Tues, all to help her.
They'll kick back a few shots of espresso:
 BADDA-BING! BADDA-BOOM! RIGHT?
DOUBT IT. EDWIN? NO DOUBT! GOOD MAN!
WITH MOM AROUND?
FUGGETABOUTIT!
(i like talking all "New Jersey" it's fun!)


Did I mention annual inspection and the only thing she 
done is her hair and she ain't even given us our 
antibiotics yet? whew.


Six Words:


"Lost Mind.
Please Return.
Desperately Needed."


SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN EMAILS UNTIL
AFTER THE INSPECTION BUT PLEASE DO KEEP
WRITING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PUBLISHING
MORE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL MEERIS AND 
ENLARGING OUR FAMILY OF FURRY FRIENDS!


LOVE ALL,
BHINDI
(don't tell no one, but i'm gettin' a friend once
the vet clears us for take-off! YumYum still 
blaming me for the vet! At least I get runabouts
with Vinny and we have lots o'fun, but once
back in my cage I feel so all alone...so
getting me a new friend, just don't tell
NOBODY!)

BAVARIAN MEERIS! WOWEE!

OH MY GOSH, LOOK WHO INGRID
AND HELMUT SENT TO CHEER US UP!
IT'S SUNNY, MEERI-BOY (NOT SUNNY, BUT IT'S 5 a.m. so...) SPITZMAUS,
AND A VIEW OF SOME MIGHTY COZY
LIVING QUARTERS.


IS IT WRONG TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A FAVORITE OR TWO OR THREE AND WANT TO PET AND BRUSH AND GROOM AND FEED THEM TREATS, AND HEAR THEM PURR ON MY LAP AND WATCH THEM POPCORN TOGETHER AND SEE HOW
DIFFERENT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE
AND REMEMBER, THESE ARE ONLY THREE OUT OF A TOTAL OF EIGHT!


DON'T  YOU LOVE THEIR NAMES?
SPITZMAUS? IT'S NOT OUR FAULT 
IF WE FALL IN LOVE, THEY
ARE SO BEAUTIFUL,
WHO WOULDN'T?


THANK YOU INGRID AND HELMUT
FOR SHARING YOUR BAVARIAN
BUNDLES OF JOY! FAIRY SAID YOU
WERE SPECIAL AND FAIRY KNOWS 
THESE THINGS AND SHE IS ALWAYS
RIGHT AND THIS TIMES SHE OUTDID
HERSELF WITH RIGHT-NESS AND
WE ARE SO HAPPY GETTING TO KNOW 
OUR NEW COUSINS IN BAVARIA
JUST IN CASE OUR VOLCANO GETS...
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE STEAM AND THE
LAVA, THE MUDSLIDES, AND THE EXPLOSIONS AND WHAT-NOTS...
YOUR MOUNTAINS DON'T DO THAT,
DO THEY? WE SHALL BEGIN TEACHING
VINNY-GUINEA, YUM-YUM, AND BHINDI
BAVARIAN-GUINEA-WHEEK...YOU KNOW, JUST IN CASE...


THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A SERVING
OF YOUR JOY! NOW WE CAN IMAGINE
LOVING THEM AS OUR VERY OWN...


WITH FAIRY AND MARIGOLD BRINGING
BALLOONS AND MAGIC CARROTS
AND SPECIAL TOADSTOOLS.
OOOOH, THIS JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER! THANK YOU!

FRIENDSHIP DRAWN

FRIENDSHIP IN MY IMAGINATION.
DRAWN FOR ARTISAN'S GALLERY.
TIGHTLY WOVEN TAPESTRY OF LOVE.
YOU ARE ALL IN EVERY BREATH
I TAKE NOW, INSEPARABLE.
AND IT IS GOOD.
IT IS HOLY.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY
A TRAGEDY WITH LOVE INFINITE.
THIS IS ONE OF MY DRAWINGS
ILLUSTRATING HOW I PERCEIVE LOVE.
YOU ARE IN IT.
WHEREVER YOU WANT TO BE.
THIS IS FOR YOU.

GRIEF: SIX WORDS

Hair Washed:
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
Smile?

Found...

A few summers ago, when I could still walk,
Edwin and I spent a long, long day hiking the lakes 
and high trails around Mount Baker. 
We picked wild blueberries, prayed by ponds
of glacial melt, and languished in the altitude where
 I always seem to forget I have ever been ill...


We came across a number of free-standing rock sculptures
to which Edwin added his own touches.


This one really spoke to me.
If we had our way, it is where we would like to have
spread the guinea pigs' ashes but under the circumstances
I am still trying to find strength to wash the bird's nest
out of my hair! They know this is where we will go
to remember them. They also know everywhere we
go we will remember them. They also know we cannot
ever stop remembering them, nor would we
ever want to, for we are all better for their
having been in our lives, our Little Buddhas!


As each one died, I wrapped him or her in my favorite
pillowcase to take to the vet for cremation and have
come up with another 6 word short story:


"For Sale:
Pillowcases.
Broken heart included."


love,
Chana