A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-03-03...."I Love Lucy"

Dutchess, Gizmo and Billie

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie,Mama_Bear; dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine

How precious we "creatures"great and small are. We bring fun, laughter and comfort to you, our human family and friends. . .. and yes . . . aggravation too! We hope you enjoy meeting today's FinestFRPets and also hope you will allow us the honor of featuring your special furry (or not so furry) FRPet(s) on the Finest.

I Love Lucy

Gizmo: Hi finest friends….decided it was time to go "truckin" and visit our good friend deadhead ("truckin" get it???? Deadhead…grateful dead????? Oh….errrr…never mind) and her lovely pup Lucy. When I get there deadhead is already at work but I'm warmly greeted by Lucy and a great plate of doggie treats.

Lucy: Hey Giz….Was wondering when you finally would pay me a visit!

Giz: Hi Lucy. Nice to finally meet you. Before I get the "scoop" on you I understand your mom was always quite the dog lover. How about some background for our readers….

Lucy: Well mom grew up with two loving dogs. She always wanted a dog so bad and in 1968 her mom's friend knew of someone who was looking for a home for their 2 year old dog because their daughter had allergies. Mom begged and begged (but not too much because her parents were pretty soft when it came to animals). Not long afterwards her parents took her to pick up "Dino" a Shepherd/Husky mix. Then in 1972 Maxi, a cockapoo and as mom says "a sweetheart of a dog" came into her life.

I have to add...that my soon to be grandma...loved those guys extra special too....

Giz: Were Dino and Maxi close?

Lucy: Oh…very close. In August 1985 Dino, then 19 years old, went to Rainbow Bridge. Maxi was 13 at the time. After Dino passed away, Maxi, who never strayed, ran away and never came home again. Mom is sure her heart was broken with Dino gone.

Giz: Awe, how sad. I just lost my older sister Codee…but I'm quite a bit younger than Maxi was and know how much mom and dad needed me after Codee passed. Hey…bet they are all playing up there together at Rainbow Bridge. Wonder if they can get Free Republic up there????

Lucy: I'm sure they can….and bet that Weinie is playing with them too!

Giz: Okay…I digressed…So….was it hard on your mom?

Lucy: Oh my yes….after losing the both of them, she swore she would never get a dog again and go through that heartbreak.

10 years later

Lucy: July 4, 1995...all grown up mom went to a party at "Uncle" Dan and "Aunt" Heather who work with mom. I was one of 9 five week old puppies there and I must say….I was the cutest. I could tell mom wanted me…but was hesitant because my "canine mama" was a pitbull….so she left without me.

Giz: So….quick what happened?????

Lucy: Well…someone adopted me….but then changed their mind….and were going to take me to the pound….

Giz: Oh no!!!!!! How can people be so cruel???? (Easy to be Hard…"Three Dog Night" ???? err….never mind)

Lucy: Giz…you are about as silly as mom said you'd be! Anyway…Aunt Heather and Uncle Dan couldn't let that happen so they took me back in….but only temporarily because they already had Buddy, a lab, and the landlord would only allow one dog. They only had a short time to find me a home. Well, knowing mom's love for the Grateful Dead…and how she really deep down wanted me….they named me Jerry….quietly scheming to get mom to adopt me.

Giz: Jerry? You don't look like a Jerry. How'd you end up Lucy????

Lucy: Finally mom broke down and told them to take me to the school where they all worked and mom would "meet me and think about it". Well…..once she saw me there was nothing to think about…heck I was one sweet pup!

Giz: Yup…love at first sight. That's what happened with mom when I showed up on her doorstep. You see I escaped the pound and went searching for the right home. You're pretty lucky to have such a nice "aunt and uncle". So how was it at first for you?

Lucy: Well, it was the next day, 9/13/95 when mom picked me up. Aunt Heather and Uncle Dan walked me out with Buddy and put me in the car. At that time I didn't know what was going on…was kind of scared and missed the family I had lived with for two months….so I just kept looking out the back window and cried and cried. Now I feel bad that I did that to mom but she said it just made her realize what a big heart I have.

Giz: Did it take long to bond…and how in the heck did you go from Jerry to Lucy????

Lucy: When we first got to mom's place we were sitting in the living room and she asked if I wanted to go out. I ran and got my leash and she was so impressed commenting on how smart I was in addition to having a huge heart. How could I not feel right at home and loved!

Lucy: Regarding my name…mom just felt Jerry didn't fit and also had recently lost a friend named Jerry so she changed it to Annalee…. I mean ANNALEE??????? Can you imagine?????

Giz: Oh yuck! Oops…apologies to anyone out there named Annalee…it just doesn't fit in this case!

Lucy: Well…the next day…mom realized that too and one show that always made her laugh was I Love Lucy….so Lucy I became.

Giz: The name definitely fits. So did things fall into place then?

Lucy: Well I think it was meant to be that we got together back them. Grandma (mom's mom) was diagnosed with terminal cancer about that time. They were so close and mom was devastated. She would cry and I would just look at her and cock my head from side to side trying to let her know I understood her sadness. Grandma and I really loved each other too.

Giz: (wiping a tear) Oh how bittersweet. I'm sure you were a great source of comfort for your mom back then. And I bet Dino and Maxi were there to greet your grandma when she passed on. Anything else you want to share?

Lucy: Mom says I love everyone even all my canine friends. I always the greeter when visitors come and a ride in the car is one of my favorite things to do. I sit in the back seat, behind mom and am so proud to show off… Mom's sister Moe, says she should have a bumper sticker that says "Driving Miss Lucy" A favorite spot is the "Dairy Barn", a local drive-thru convenience store. They always have a treat for me.

Giz: I hear you like water too. Me...give me a bathtub with mom in it....ugh with those creepy crawlers in the "real stuff!!!

I LOVE going to the docks. Mom has to hang on tight to my leash…as I'm always tempted to jump into the bay. Water just fascinates me. And road trips….I just love them. When I see mom packing, I know something is up and get really excited.

Giz: Yea…well….I usually do to….unless they leave me behind….but boy the guilt trip I can put them through and they sure make up for it afterwards heheheh…So any cute stories????

Lucy: Well….when I was 2 years old, while mom was at work, I went to her cassette tape rack, pulled a tape out, broke the plastic holder and swallowed the entire 90 minutes of a Beatles tape.

Giz: The Beatles are one of my favorites too!!!! So what happened?

Lucy: Well The Beatles SOUND better then they taste. Had some major sugery and now all the cassettes are packed away and CD's only in our house.

Giz: I think that is one snack I'll pass on. Last thing…mom said you were pretty sick recently. You seem much better now.

Lucy: Well…it was pretty weird for awhile…mom and I didn't know what was wrong but the docs finally diagnosed me with "Vestibular Disease". It usually affects much older dogs…gosh…I'm only 8. And while there was some permanent damage, I'm now blind in my right eye, my right lip droops a little and my right ear sometimes sticks straight up, but other then that, I'm back to my spunky self. I'm sure with all of mom's tender loving care and all the prayers from her FR Family and Friends there are a lot more good years ahead of me.

Giz: Well…..Lucy….you are everything I thought you would be. It sure has been swell meeting you and thank that cool mother of yours for all the good food and hospitality but alas…it's time to take my leave. But…before I go….any secret fantasies you care to share????

Lucy: Well….you know there is….I have this fantasy about meeting our beloved president and Barney. Sounds kind of silly doesn't it?

Giz: Not at all…You know I always had that dream and one day it came true. How about you and I touch paws, close our eyes and wish real hard….After all anything is possible at the Finest……

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-01-03...Military Monday 12-02-03...Holiday Contest: Rumsfeld Doll"

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[WVNan]

Thank you my FRiend.

[ohioWfan]

Soooooooo.........are we getting together in January after the Christmas rush??

[LadyX]

Our Logan's birthday?!!
Is he 4 today?
Lose track with so many nieces and nephews now...

We demand pictures of him and Christian..:))

[jwfiv]

Butterflies...yes, one of the Good Lord's little flourishes, just cuz He loves beautiful things.

[mountaineer]

Let's wait till they nab the (apparent) sniper!

[WVNan]

Ladies in waiting? I very much doubt that any of the gentlemen passing by had any illusions that we were.....those kind of ladies. If so, they must have thought the pickins were getting mighty thin LOL.

Yes, those are special memories now. I just wish you could have held out longer so you and hubby could have visited WV. But I'm going to try to arrange another trip sometime.

[WVNan]

January? I'll bet the weather would be a huge factor in Jan. I'm for a warmer time myself. But if you guys want to chance the weather and meet I'm always game for adventure.

[WVNan]

One of God's little flourishes. Neat turn of phrase. I recall when a classmate when finishing the sentence, "God's little joke on humankind was the........", he put "the opposable thumb."

[WVNan]

Yeah, good idea. I'm holding off on coming into Columbus for my BOTOX shots because I have to travel 23 or I-270 and neither is a good choice. As for meeting at the Bob Evans, K and I came up the back way last time and came in on U.S. 40.

[MinuteGal]

Happy birthday, Nan.

I love birthday parties on the Finest threads.

Save the gooey end piece for me! Must be chocolate fudge, though.

Leni

[WVNan]

Going down and get me another cup of coffee. BRB.

[LadyX]

" Did I tell you that Jack used to sing in a coffee house in Coral Gables?"

I don't think so. You should have seen that area when I was young, living there in the late '30's and early 40's.
Imagine many empty lots...Coral Gables BEFORE Miracle Mile!
I remember when the corner of that and Ponce de Leon Boulevard had on the four corners:

- a bank
- a grocery store
- an empty lot - and
- the City Bus Station!

Know you know the Douglas Entrance Building.
Used to be able to enter Coral Gables through it to get to Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
My father had his Consulting Engineering Office in it.

[LadyX]

Knowing of your trips to Columbus, I have been concerned with the sniper thing, Nan. Let me know before your next trip there so I can hoist a prayer shield.

[WVNan]

I remember. My psychiatrist was located in Coral Gables. I can imagine that area in the 40s. We moved to Miami in 54. Lived in a trailer (yep, folks, I'm trailer trash) on N.W. 36th St. behind a used car lot LOL. Attended church in Hialeah. Later after second child was born we moved into a house in Perrine, to the right of where Dixie Hwy splits around the town. Think about it, if I had stayed there I might have blown away in Andrew. All that section where we lived was flattened.

[WVNan]

I'm not planning to go for awhile. I need to go but I'm going to see how long I can function without the shots. I suspect they might have something to do with triggering my Rosacea. Maybe not, but one can't help but wonder.

[LadyX]

"This life seemed so much easier and slower in some ways, I love the new technology but I sure miss those days.

So time moves on and so do we, and nothing stays the same, But I sure love to reminisce and walk down memory lane."

Amen to these, TO. Imagine the majority of those here cannot imagine How It Used To Be, before the many things they take for granted.

TC, know you will appreciate this thread, remembering those great threads in 2001 you posted and hosted..:))

Can't remember if I included you in the Heads Up Freep Mail about this being WVNan's birthday??

[WaterDragon]

No! LOL. When I was trying to decide on a screen name, my neighbor who is into that kind of thing suggested the name because I'm a Piscean born in the Year of the Dragon! At the time, I'd never heard of the little water lizards. They sound fascinating!

[The Thin Man]

Gizmo, you're the best (even though your jokes were pretty lame) and it was great to meet Lucy.

So just between us, what was dutchess' typo that had to be fixed?

[Donaeus]

((((((WVNan))))))

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SWEET NAN!!

[LadyX]

Traffic in the early 40's was so light, when I sometimes went to Daddy's office I was allowed to cross the street where Miami ended and Coral Gables began to the Howard Johnson's Ice Cream Shop.

Loved to agonize over what of the 37 flavors to choose!
It mostly was strawberry then...

Now you'd put on full body armor and cross in a Bradley tank and pray you'd make it..:))