Politics . . . & Women Voters

About 10AM (PST) this morning the Colonel's Mom called to let us know McCain had picked a running mate. Since that phone call I have pretty much been surfing television news channels listening to all of the hoopla concerning Senator McCain's pick to run as Vice President on the Republican ticket. It's now about 2:30PM and CNN's "The Cafferty File" has already received more than 11,000 e-mails concerning this announcement.

The news channels are covered with pundits and proliferators posturing their opinions. Since this is my space . . . I might as well jump in with my own opinion. Although there are many, many topics I enjoy writing about, politics, political parties and elections are not very high on my list.

I really only want to make two points.

My first and most important point is one I think all of the major news stations seem to be overlooking. An incredible historical event will happen with our Presidential Election in November of this year. Whether the Democrat or the Republican candidates win, this election will be more than just historical. Either the first African-American will be elected President or the first woman will be elected as Vice-President. Either way, this election will move our great country forward just as our forefathers intended all Americans to be "created equal." We truly live in the greatest country in the world.

My second point has to do with McCain nominating a woman to be his VP running mate. If I hear one more talking head speak about the women voters who supported Hillary now supporting and intending to vote for McCain because he has a woman running mate, I think I'll vomit. Do those asking this question think women voters are naive enough to vote for a female just because she is female? Or, do they think women are just stupid? I think this entire discussion is offensive and defeats the entire purpose intended by women's suffrage.

I am an Independent and never claimed Republican, Democrat, Green, Blue or Whig as my party. I vote for the candidate who best represents my values. Currently, like many Americans, our economy, health care, Iraq and education are high on my priority list. I will vote for the candidates who intend to make these issues their highest priorities with plans that reflect my opinions and beliefs. I will not vote for a woman simply because she is a woman. The divide between the priorities and plans of the Republicans and the Democrats is so great, how could anyone, male or female, who voted for Hillary Clinton as President jump over and vote for the Republicans without giving thought to their difference in policies?

With all of the really important issues and problems our next President will face, our news stations could find something more substantial to talk about in this very important election year. If nothing else, this election will be monumental in our nation's history.

And, that's my two cents worth on politics . . .

Meet Mollie . . . & Healing

My last post here was over a month ago on a terribly, terribly bad day. Words cannot express how much I miss Drew. Mourning her and missing her so much sometimes makes me feel very guilty. After all, ultimately, I knew she was a dog. She was a four-legged member of my family. Drew was a constant, daily part of my life for almost 18 years and she always loved me unconditionally. In many, many ways, Drew and I grew to adulthood together.

After Drew's passing, the Colonel and I decided we did not want another dog. This hurt was too deep and too much to bear again. For weeks we commiserated together. Every time we entered our home, we missed Drew. Drew's house (crate) sat in the corner of the bedroom with its door permanently held open by one of her stuffed animal toys. At night, she slept inside her house, or on the floor just outside of its door. She was the first thing I saw when I awakened. After several weeks, the hurt and loss simply were not going away.

During the last few weeks of Drew's life, Drew slept a lot. Every time she woke up, I would pick her up and take her out our front door so she could relieve herself. On one of the evenings I was sitting on the front porch watching Drew, one of the neighbors was walking by and stopped to chat for a few minutes. We talked about Drew and her family's dogs - three Miniature Schnauzers and a Yorkie. I knew they had several dogs because, although a deaf Drew was oblivious to the barking, they barked whenever we walked Drew in front of their home.

Two weeks ago Monday, I was out front watering the plants when my neighbor walked by again, she asked about our little dog and I told her we had lost Drew. She said she needed to find a good home for the youngest of her Miniature Schnauzers, because four dogs was just too many for them to have. She told me to come see her Schnauzer and see what I thought. I came in and told the Colonel about the Schnauzer across the street. At that time I was packing to leave the next morning for a week-long trip to SC to visit my family.

All I can really say about what happened next is, God really does know our needs much better than we do. I left to go out of town, worrying about leaving the Colonel alone without Drew. Our neighbor had no idea I was going out of town. While I was gone, she stopped by with her Schnauzer named Mollie. She left Mollie with the Colonel. The Colonel kept Mollie for several hours before returning her back to our neighbors. A very excited Colonel called me late that night to tell me about Mollie. Pretty excited, the Colonel was.

The loss of Drew was traumatic. I was ready to try anything to help heal this deep feeling of loss and if that meant getting another dog to help heal, I was ready. The evening I got back from SC, the Colonel and I went to the neighbor's so I could meet Mollie. Mollie's Mom and Dad Schnauzers are two of the dogs in their home and the third dog was the cutest little Yorkie you have ever seen. The Yorkie ruled the roost! We brought Mollie home with us that night.

Since the addition of Mollie, our home has been a lot brighter. The day after we got her, we took her with us to the pet store to get her a few things . . . treats, food, a bed she'll likely never use . . . you know, necessities. The Colonel had already purchased a couple of toys for her while I was out of town.

We needed cat food, so we stopped by the vet and took her in with us to get the cat food and introduce her to our vet staff. (After having Drew put to sleep, getting cat food was a real struggle because the vet was a really, really sad place.)

I have been walking Mollie twice a day on days when we have not taken her to the dog park so she could run off-leash. We have taught her how to use the pet door so she can go in and out as she pleases or needs.

I would tell you the Colonel is spoiling her rotten but that wouldn't quite be the truth . . . because I suppose I am spoiling her my share too. She is just a great, sweet little dog. She's well-trained, house-broken and adorable. After having Mollie for a week, we really understand just how fragile, ailing and old Drew was. Mollie is a joy. She has a great, easy temperament. She is incredibly loving. We have left her alone once. When we came home, she was so excited to see us, I thought she was going to have a stroke. That's the most excited she has been. She is not a hyper-active schnauzer, which I think I expected. She's 99% calm all the time and a great fit in our household.

I still miss Drew. I suppose I always will. It's really great to hear the pitter-patter of a four-legged friend in our home again.