Our intentions for the day started out well. Knowing it was to be a nice day I asked Doug if he would like to go to the beach for the day. A four hour drive. At the last minute we changed plans and decided to go to Augusta (a two and a half hour drive).
Dogs packed, Doug looked up some areas to hike and found Augusta has a growing River Walk Arts Area. Long story short, it was a four hour drive, the River Arts Area looked like a stunningly, well rehabbed ghost town and they had three galleries. After spending a beautiful morning in the car (getting lost - odd for Doug) we were both pretty crabby and even looking for a parking place (in a city full of hundreds of empty parking spaces) became a source of argument. Parked, the dogs and I went one direction along the river and Doug went looking at historic buildings in another. Stormy thoughts clouded my head, two of the leashed dogs were very ill behaved (they are better off leash) and I was starving.
There was NO ONE wandering the streets or River Walk in this very pretty area, except a lot of homeless guys. All of them were very polite, only one asked for money and the dogs enjoyed playing with them. After walking along the river and frustrating the dogs by not letting them swim down the Savannah, I went back to the car. Aside from a few bars nothing was open and the dogs looking for water went into a tattoo shop. I have never been in a tattoo shop before and it looked like an upscale beauty salon. The guys were wonderful, all very decorated and polite and they gave the dogs water and biscuits.
Still crabby with Doug by the time we met at the car, he had found some galleries (three) and off we went....once again getting in an argument over parking - ridiculous since there was parking all over the place!
Much to my crabby and biased surprise all three of these galleries were wonderful. I even bought a small painting in one.
So why am I boring you with all these details? The day, for the most part was spent in the car, but we did get to a nice lake for the dogs before heading home. And like the river, I met the nicest men and their dogs - all homeless. The dogs were better behaved and better groomed than my own cherished pack. The last man that I talked too, with his dog, also named Hootie (but spelled Houdi), was intelligent and congenial he told me the story of how he got Houdi. And a dog, Isabelle before Houdi. He gave Isabelle up (a few years ago) shortly after finding her as a dumped in the canal puppy, freezing. But the first night he had her he said he gathered up all the wood in the park, built a good fire and snuggled with her the whole night to warm her up. There is a weird small casino near this park, so he went and got all the chicken leftovers behind the kitchen for his new puppy. And on the way back from the casino trash, he found a thrown away Burger King burger with only one bite. They huddled and shared dinner that night.
The next day he went to the factory, down over there (he pointed) and asked if he could use the phone to call a buddy, so he and the dog could stay a few days while the cold weather was settling in. After the phone call, the man who let him used the phone said he'd take the puppy, but my friend was reluctant. I don't want her put down or abused he told the fellow. After a long conversation, and realizing he was not in the best state to take care of a new puppy, he let her go, but made the new owner promise to keep in touch. They have and Isabella is a thriving, rambunctious four year old who loves her new family with two daughters and a father who keeps his promises.
My homeless companion's current dog, also about four or five, was found living in deplorable conditions in a neighborhood over there (another point). The dog's owner was insulted by the suggestion he should be kinder to this young dog and said if you can do better, take him. So this fellow did. He and Houdi are a happy pair, on their way home, taking a few minutes to play with us and talk. I had not realized he was still homeless until he told me how Augusta is a pretty good place to be homeless. He has a nice place down (pointing again) by the canal. Plenty of wood and lots of places to get really decent left over food. And during those short cold spells, he calls his friend to put them up for a few days.
After talking dogs, life and the history of his dog genetics, Houdi's dad saidgood bye and continued on home (down by the canal under the bridge with a really good view and some nice trees). "if you are ever homeless", he said to me "consider Augusta - it's actually pretty safe here too!"
And I was the crab because the day was not going as planned!
Friday, February 15, 2013
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What an interesting post, Miriam! You seem like such an open-hearted human being. You're kind, and honest about your feelings. I admire how you kept an open mind about your day.
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