36 hours

we have a new PUPPY!

after many delays [strep for every two-legger on the hill] Ranger and i went to get the newest addition to the family... i figured it was now, or wait till december [son and d-i-l are due to have their baby boy next week] so, i woke friday morn, grabbed our backpacks and we headed east to dahlonega, georgia.

uneventful trip east, save the regular traffic snarls around atlanta [i do NOT like large cities... seems once ya start selling property by the square foot the number of idiots increases exponentially] ... i observed one particularly nasty traffic tie-up from atlanta going west, and made my lil prayers that it wouldn't occur on our trip home. as we were going past that  fiasco i glanced over and saw a hitchhiker waiting on a ride west and thought 'babe, you can walk faster than they are moving'

dahlonega is a gorgeous town... we must return when i have more time to spend wandering.  checked into the smith house and i find out it's owned by the welch family, my great-grandfather was from this area and moved to m'sippi when a child. yeah, i have cousins everywhere. 

"old books and chocolate? side by side? is the heaven?" From dahlonega and back

next morning we picked up our baby and headed home... stopped in north atlanta to let the 4-leggers relieve and stretch. Bubbles did great the whole trip [no accidents] but did NOT like the lead i had her on and refused to load and unload... so i had to pick her up with Ranger right beside me making sure i didn't fall and wondering why i was loving on a dog other than he. all i could think was "oh boy! gonna be a l--o--n--g trip.... i am going to need help----- where's a hitchhiker when ya need one?" 

well lo-&-behold the guy that was looking for a ride west was back in the same spot.... with a sign that read "New Orleans"   JACKPOT!!  i backed up and he looked inside at Ranger [who let out his obligatory rrrrumble] --- i smiled and said "have i gotta job for YOU" the look on his face was priceless. i explained the situation to danny and he agreed to help me with the puppy at the pit stops. 

yeah, yeah, i probably know what you're thinking.... it's dangerous to pick up hitchhikers... nah. what i was thinking :: why is the speed limit fifty-five miles per hour on i-20 from the GA-AL line to talledega? and why are drivers from texas, hinds co m'sippi, and north atlanta all unaware of common courtesy when driving? did they have the same driving instructor?  if you know  the answer to any of these questions... leave a comment... now back to what you might be thinking...

i have always been one to give someone a ride, i've met many great people and heard wonderful life stories... as far as danger? in my life i've been hurt most by those i know, those who profess to love me... those put in a position to care for me... i was molested at 6 years old by a step-uncle... burned by a baby sitter when a toddler... raped as a teen by 'friends' .... robbed and cheated by 'family' .... hurt by those that will never know what loving and caring for another really means. you are taught to be afraid of strangers... but i've found, strangers sometimes treat me better than those that profess to love me.

i let danny out at jackson, he was heading to biloxi for the winter, not new orleans [he figured nola would be more recognizable than another city] arrived safely back in the hamlet of wesson... stopped and introduced Bubbles to the grandsons... all is well in my world... ok, if not in my world.. it is well in my soul... and THAT is all that matters. 

the end

From dahlonega and back