We have a secret, you and I that no one else shall know, for who but I can see you lie each night in fire glow? And who but I can reach my hand before we go to bed and feel the living warmth of you and touch your silken head? And only I walk woodland paths and see ahead of me, your small form racing with the wind so young again, and free. And only I can see you swim in every brook I pass and when I call, no one but I can see the bending grass. Author Unknown Mom's Love For Me Ralph â€~da Ralph Ralphie Dude And at times †Yo†I ignored that one! Okay now, I ignored Dude completely, well say 50/50. Usually I was only called Dude on our walkabouts. I already had my path in place, depending on if we started down towards Mr. Schultz, or up towards the Navy guy. PS on that one to Mary, we don†t think he was a Navy guy, now the guy to the North of him, definitely. â€~da Ralph and Ralphie were my special signatures for my Jacquie Lawson cards. It was my pleasure to send Katherine 1-2 cards at every market. For those of you who don†t know, Furniture Markets are the pits. Wonderful after all the hard work, but really, floor plan askew, delivery trucks late, broken this or thatâ€Ã�� Where to start. I didn†t travel well, always tossed my cookies, leaving Dick perplexed. Calming oil, meds, to no avail. I improved, where I could go to Grandma and Grandpa†s house, probably 93% of the time w/o incident. Forget the mountains, and Morro Bay, whew, I did a good job. We do miss Sandy and Patches, as the Pleasant Inn†s laundry was always available for my clean up. But Grandma had a system, and we didn†t need it. It all most likely came from my first big guy travel. I was 10 weeks old and used that 5:00 a.m. departure from Eugene, OR, to perfect my Toller Scream. Got it right onâ€"absolutely flawless. 5, Highway 126 to the 5, and Fullerton, California, via Morro Bay here we come. Had to go over Siskiyou Pass first. That was a tough one; i.e. snow plows, grandpa snoring, snow flurries, grandma having a meltdown, wind and rain, mom drives a Jeep, and probably a few patches of black ice. Don†t tell Grandma. Then across on 41 to 101 and into Morro Bay for the night. Sandy and Patches were there to greet us. Patches (a wolf, Australian Shepard and Herding dog mix) gave me a toy, shared his treats, just made me feel it was going to be okay. He knew my new family for a long time. Comforted me, much how Spy did when Mary brought him by to visit. Next day, 101, 126, 5 to the 210, and 57 freeways. I know too many major highways, but that is when I knew it was time to toss my cookies. Have I said, Mom drives a Jeep, and if all was good by the 57, I knew we were close to home and shared my breakfast. The 101 by the Channel Islands is much smoother now, so I know Mom†s new guy will make it better than I did on those bumps. Did I say she drives a Jeep? ð ~ My first months, Grandpa and Grandma were there. I met a lizard, Dick-my vet, a squirrel or two, Mary and Spy, another squirrelâ€Ã��. Where I lived, there are lots of birds, an occasional skunk or possum, don†t worry I had a fence for them, keeping them by the pool and me by the grass. Usually I never knew they were there. Mom did. The squirrels, Mom would have to come and save me. She†d hear them making noises, and I didn†t know I was in their territory; I wasn†t on the fence. I travelled to Morro Bay, Big Bear and the desert. Thanksgiving in the desert was cool. I always enjoyed the desert, but the heat, not so much. There were new birds to see, quail, road runners, and such. Lots of doves, but I had my own doves, Fly Catchers and Hawks. Travelling to Morro Bay, meant wine tasting. Let me tell you, I†ve been to a ranch, rather rugged out there. I was going to go to Sonora, yes, a bit of wine tasting to be done there, but to stay in my first B & B with Astrid. Then to visit Alice, Mom†s high school friend. I†m not here now to go, and Alice has had to move to a better care place. I loved fireplace hearths, started at Cindy†s. Except at Cindy†s I made a deposit, at mom†s no, no. Not the place for those things, and not around the pool either. I had my own yard, and fence, as I wasn†t an Olympian in the water. In fact, Morkie†s spirit taught me how to enjoy the pool, sun, roses and not have to go skinny dipping. I loved to play toy toss, and get to now anytime of day with Grandpa. He met me at the bridge, and had all the gang there to meet me. Gumbo-he ran Bubble Butt (Uncle Bush) down the streets in Whittier, Lady, Rascal, Goldie, Romo, Beau-he almost lifted his leg in mom†s house and liked to start all the fights at the camp outs, Morkie-he liked to pick on Jerry and Vivian†s dog, she was part coyote, Bessie-lovingly called Air Head-she got up every day looking for the next big excitement, Haylee-she learned to just enjoy life with good people, Mom and Richard, the beach at Morro Bay and, especially, the cabin. Her ashes are there. And then, I never met Fuma, but heard the stories, felt her presence in the front bedroom. Her ashes are there. Yes, Grandma I can see how she could intimidate you ð ~ I loved my walks, making new friends, Yogi and Nelson. Nelson taught me we could play, 10 lbs. and 50+ lbs. Spy wasn†t big on playingâ€"just looking regal. I†ll have to visit him here. Ice cubes were cool, literally cool, treats. I only got those manufactured goodies with my menus. Ice cubes is probably why Dick was so impressed with my teethâ€"beautiful pearly whites. Not one dental treatment needed. Many emotions come about with change, and leaving you is a big one. Mom will give R2, many toys, ice cubes, cool travel beds and crates. Grandma is in charge of toys. All us Tollers love ducks, and I had a bunch. Along with bar bells, mouses with Christmas hats, and oh yes Firehoses. Firehoses are right up there with the quacky ducks. Keep my memories close, know I am but a thought away. Love you, Ralph Conway Andresâ€"aka Ralphie PS-Mom can't get the photos from the camera to work. That won't get fixed 'til Thanksgiving. I really wanted to show all how clean I was w/my toys. I'd put them in the pool, but she'd make me get them out. The real proof is in the photo of me putting one on the dishwasher door. For Ralph from Mom: You left your thoughts on what time to eat with the Flintstones. They are now starting to circle the pond, looking for their food about an hour plus before time. I miss you much, †If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I†d walk right to heaven and bring you home again.â€