Forgiving

Forgive

1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one’s enemies.

A while back, I did what I do best in life. I opened my mouth and inserted my foot. It’s not that I meant to, it was just a subject that I tend to have no control over the way I react.

I tried to apologize. I did everything I could think of to make amends, but nothing has worked, and since this occurred I actually have changed the way I handle difficult situations.

I realize that not everyone can like everyone in this crazy world of ours, but I think I am a pretty nice person. I try so hard and this is hurting me.

29 years ago when that impaired driver hit my car, I was so filled with hate and rage, that it all but consumed me.

I spent years in therapy to get to the point where I could forgive the man who did this. It was forgive or die for me.

Now it’s not like I saw him and gave him an easy pass of actually forgiving him. In fact the forgiveness was in my mind and my heart. I will never forget, but I did have to let it go.

I think letting go is part of the forgiving process.

(Isn’t it for everyone?)

Well, I will try to let it go. I do not want to begin a battle. I just need to walk away.

Have you had something like this happen? How did you handle things when after several apologies, you are not forgiven?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family’s heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree.

My grandfather, Papa Fred, came to the USA when he was 9 years old. My Uncle Albert picked Papa and his father up after they had cleared Ellis Island and they went for lunch in a Pub. The ordered hotdogs and beer. The waiter said “But we don’t serve children beer!” They brought Papa milk and from that day on Papa loved his milk. Not too much, after all it was a special drink.

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Love and miss you Papa!

2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-

“Luck is the residue of design.”
Agree or disagree? Why?

Sometimes you make your own luck. Luck isn’t always an accident. There’s a reason some people seem luckier than others.

3. In the town where you currently reside, what’s your favorite green space?

Lake Winnipesaukee.

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4. Who is your favorite comedian?

Carol Burnett and Tim Conway. Oh my goodness, they sure made me laugh!

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way. What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try?

By cutting carbs. I really need to get my eating under control. Right now I feel like it is getting away from me.

6. Which of these green expressions have you ‘experienced’ in recent weeks -green with envy, green thumb, green around the gills, or give the green light? Explain.

Green around the gills. Only because so much has been going on.

7. Where is one place you don’t mind waiting?

In a lovely German Restaurant while with my girlfriend Uschi!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Not much luck finding what I want dog wise. Ultimately getting a pup this summer would be the very best. Currently, we have 4 feet of snow in the back yard, and another foot of snow expected tonight.

And So It Begins

I started the process of looking for a good breeder to get a White German Shepherd from. Even though we have three dachshunds, our house is amazingly empty without Fritz. It wasn’t that he was demanding, in fact Greta and Anneliese are the ones who are demanding. No, Fritz had a big heart, a spirit so large that it filled our lives quietly.

So, I’ve discovered two breeders that actually have sites written by people they have scammed and cheated. Darn. One of the sites actually had the cutest puppy on it. But there is a Facebook page and a blog all about this woman and her cheating and lying. In fact when I spoke to her she actually lied to me about a breeder I do know to be reputable.

With the new pup I will take it to obedience classes and then I want to go on to Canine Good Citizen and then on to Therapy Dog.

Ah well, we will find our puppy when it is right. Never rush. Check out all references and get the healthiest pup from the most responsible breeder.

A Letter From Fritz’s Original Family

I got this wonderful email today:

Maribeth & Jack,

I am heartbroken for the both of you! Only someone who has loved a pet as one of their own family members can truly appreciate the hurt and loss one feels. The similarities between Berlinn and Fritz’s passing are startling, even to the point of coming in the house and laying beside Mike as the last place he was able to get up. Fritz was so much like his dad, he had such a loving gentle spirit. He always always was my favorite of the litter. Due to my naivety of dogs reproducing the litter was unexpected, but looking back at it now I see what a blessing each puppy was, and how many lives were touched by them.

Out of all the puppies Fritz from the beginning was different, he wanted the human contact (I should say expected, lol) and always would sit on my lap and observe the other puppies like he was seeing them from our eyes. Even when they would go outside to play he stayed by my side and waited for me to interact with the puppies before he would, he was the only one that I kept inside with me only because he seemed more connected to us than he did Dottie (his mom) He even had a special spot by the fireplace he would lay at because of the cool marble, he was so mellow we never worried about him wandering or getting into trouble (but I am sure you have stories 🙂 ) I was elated when we met Jack and saw what a wonderful home he was going to, he was defiantly the lucky one of the bunch. I still remember the picture you sent of Fritz fully grown sitting on your lap as if he was a small lap dog, he didn’t care how big he was, he wanted to make sure he got his cuddle time.

I can’t thank you and Jack enough for all the updates and posts and pictures from the last 10 years, you have made us feel connected to Fritz like he was still a part of our family, thank you.

Please let me know if there is anything I could do for you, I am so very sorry for your loss.

With love,

Mike and Angie

Recovery

Hubby and I are quietly grieving. We both keep expecting Fritz to come to the door or wake us in the morning. The shock of his loss is still with us.

I finally asked Hubby if he wanted to get another White German Shepherd? He said that eventually he would. But he wants to do some research so we get a nice healthy boy with good hips.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the dackels and they are going everywhere with the two of us. Why Arnie even went out today with Hubby and helped him clearing away the ice on the driveway. They were out there for nearly an hour and Arnie was a very good boy.

The three dackels are starting to recover from Fritz’s loss. The first couple of days they were so depressed. Today they were much brighter.

If it was only that easy for Hubby and me.

Blueberry Muffins

A wonderful recipe:

Blueberry Muffins

2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 cups flour
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. fresh grated lemon peel
1-1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 cup blueberries

Beat the eggs, oil, sugar and yogurt. Add the lemon peel and mix well.
Mix all the dry ingredients in separate bowl. Slowly add to yogurt mixture. With a wooden spoon gently fold in berries..
Bake at 375 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 25-30 minutes, or until done.

NOTE: If the blueberries are really big snip them in half. Makes about 1 dozen muffins.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. The expression ‘mad as a March hare’ originated with a fictional character who is distracted and frantic. When were you last ‘mad as a March hare’ and what was it that made you that way?

It was probably during the Olympics. I got very angry at the poor coverage. You know, they could have shown so many things live, but chose not to. It really made me mad!

2. Mardi Gras this year falls on Tuesday, March 4th. Have you ever been to Mardi Gras, and if so what did you think? If not, do you have any interest in going? Purple, green, and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras. Which one is most prevalent in your wardrobe? How about in your home?

Never been to Mardi Gras. Probably not, as being in large crowds makes me very nervous. None of the colors mentioned figure in my home or wardrobe.

3. Are you old fashioned?

Very.

4. Do you carefully plan your vacations, or do you prefer the days to be more spontaneous?

Carefully plan them now. I think with the pack of dogs we have, you really have to.

5. March is National Sauce Month…what’s your favorite sauce, and what do you most often top with this sauce?

I love Alfredo Sauce. And put some Fettuccine noodles under it, and I am in Heaven!

6. What’s something that easily brings a tear to your eye?

Katie, Fritz and other losses in my life.

7. If you could own any sports team, which one would it be and why?

The Red Sox. What can I say? I am a hopeless fan.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Still feel sad and lost. I keep looking for my darling Fritz, as do the dackels.

Good Bye Darling Fritz

We took Fritz to the Vet as he went down on the floor this morning and was unable to get up. The Vet examined him, and found he had a tumor in his stomach that no one knew about. He never complained, and he never showed that he was in pain. I mentioned he had not been eating too well, and now I know that it was the tumor pressing on his belly.
This morning, the tumor ruptured and his belly was full of blood and he was bleeding inside and was dying.
We rushed him to the Vet, not knowing what was happening, only knowing he could not stand, or move. She examined him and showed us how his belly was like a water balloon it was so full of blood.
So, we got down on the floor with him and stayed as he got his injection and took his last breaths.

Our Fritz.

Fritz from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

In memory of our beloved Fritz
July 27, 2003-March 3, 2014

FOUR FEET

I have done mostly what men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through–
Wherever my road inclined–
Four-Feet said, ‘I am coming with you!’
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round–
Which I shall never find–
Some where that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

— Rudyard Kipling —

You will be missed my darling boy!