PARTING SHOTS

PARTING SHOTS

Driving past your elegant façade

Standing proudly from centuries past

Feeling remote, removed; odd

Knowing that this wouldn’t last

Beautiful home to many souls

From steeped roof, shadows are cast

Calling you mine, a worthy goal

One, I knew, would never last

No longer can I freely walk in

No longer my ship’s propelling mast

This is now, and that was then

A place called “home” that would not last

I placed you on the sales carousel

Knowing very well you’d be claimed fast

I knew for certain, I knew too well

Your ‘for sale’ status would not long last

This is a moment of deepest sorrow

For, I shall not enter your doors tomorrow

Such a beauty was mine

For a very short time

A memory to be cherished

A memory shall be cast

A memory that will linger

A memory that will last.

The last six months have been an incredible and amazing journey in my efforts to return to my home…the home I’ve had for a quarter of a century in Napa, California. Through so many excursions, experiments and trials…all with great expectations and fabulous results; along with deep disappointment and failed attempts; the time has come to head on home.

In this latest life’s journey, I’ve also created “home’ away from home. With many relationships, so many attachments and lives who have entered mine and given so much joy, this particular move is more difficult than those of the past.

I am woman who is easily drawn to and quickly attached to people, places and things. In this instance, it is multi level … my home, the animal sanctuary, so many wonderful friends, all the beautiful animals who have come to be my extended family; which make this “leaving” some behind...those who may need help in the future; those whom I've not yet met... that much harder and emotionally charged.

Yesterday, October 24^th, 2011, was the closing date for the sale of my downtown Victorian, built in 1885...elegant and proud…such a pretty place.

This is a time of reflection; remembering the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When meeting new faces and forming lasting friendships; the Heartland is full of hope. While rescuing abandoned, abused, thrown away, discarded animals; America’s Midwest is a heart breaker. A dichotomous and conflicting day to day reality which has caused much concern and a feeling of not truly belonging. Because, as anyone who has read my hubs knows; animals are first and foremost in the list of items of importance to me. And, sadly, this is not the attitude nor is it the impetus for most denizens of this part of the country.

My friend Al and I have encountered an amazing array of unexpected and heart wrenching situations concerning animals in SE Kansas. And, we’ve received little, if any, help. Even among our most cherished and closest friends, we are held apart because of our love for animals and the lengths to which we’ve been willing to go in order to save a life or lives. This is foreign to most who have been raised in an agricultural, animal based industry where animals are seen/used as tools to serve people. This concept is foreign to me.

So, it is with much consideration that I have chosen to leave this area and return to, what I consider to be, a more enlightened part of this country; where gray areas are more often found; where “black and white” is not the rule du jour.

I am grieving at the departure from my beautiful home…this is something which has always been very difficult for me…to leave something which has so much of myself and Al entrenched into the very being and structure. So be it. Este es la vida!