You leave me alone all day when you go to work
But I'll wait for you
To come home so we can be together agan
And I'll be there for you
When you had a bad day
And need a reminder that somebody loves you.
You board me when you go on a vaction
But I'll wait for you
To pick me up so we can make up for lost time
And I'll be there for you
When you are sick in bed
And need somone by your side.
You leave me in the car while you run in the store
But I'll wait for you
To continue our journey together
And I'll be there for you
When you are ready to play to with me
And need to have fun and relax.
You fuss at me when I have been bad
But I'll wait for you
To forgive me for being me
And I'll be there for you
When you start to feel lonely
And need to know you mean the world to somebody.
You ignore me unintentionally when you are busy throughout the day
But that's ok--I'll wait for you
To settle down after the day is over
And I'll still be there for you
When you are exhausted, ready for bed
And need my protection while you rest.
You grieve for me when I die
And I want you to remember
I'll still wait for you
And I'll be there for you
Next to your side in spirit
Until the day you die
When we will be reunited again
Forever and Always
Never to be separated again
For you are my master and best friend
I love you uncondiontionally
And it is my job
To wait for you
And to be there for you.
Love,
The Dog
Inspired by VooDoo and Moose, my faitful companions
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 15, 2011
A Tribute to a Queen
She begins her 2,000 mile, 10 state journey in Minnesota. When the sun starts to rise, casting its reflection on her, she becomes busy with traffic. Oil tanks transporting oil; tugboats and steamboats hauling supplies; riverboats for tourist; and casinos for gamblers come alive and adorn her. Many bridges built over her become congested and give a view of her, up and down, as far as the eye can see.
She curves and she turns, changing her course where ever she pleases. Levees and dams are built to control her, an attempt by man to prevent her from flooding their land. But she flows on, her swift water and strong currents a reminder of who she is. She is not alone, thought. She is watched by speculators all ages and cultures. On top of the levees, they sit on benches to watch her flow and see the ships pass. Other, they enjoy walking, running, or biking along her path. Even dogs like to pass the time on the grassy bottom of the levees, where families picnic.
In the early Spring, after a heavy thunderstorm, she floods. Her floodwaters are a welomed sight to people and dogs alike. People fish, dogs play and swim to beat the heat. However, when her flood waters recede, she reminds us she is still present. The mud and sediment she leaves behind is bitter and reek.
She is famous! Children read about her in Twain's famous book. She is sung about in songs by Johnny Cash and Charely Pride. Native Americans settled near her in the early days. The Civil War used her for strategic reasons. She even has an ice cream in her name!
The sun begins to set, the tugboats and steamboats stop for the night along the edges of her waters. As night comes, everything becomes calm. But she keeps going. Flowing swiftly until at last she comes to a rest at the Gulf of Mexico. And when the sun rises again, she will be there, just like she has been for thousands of years.
No one underestimates her, some may fear her. She is called Mighty, Great, or Big. In her own way, she is all three.
She is the Mississippi River.
She curves and she turns, changing her course where ever she pleases. Levees and dams are built to control her, an attempt by man to prevent her from flooding their land. But she flows on, her swift water and strong currents a reminder of who she is. She is not alone, thought. She is watched by speculators all ages and cultures. On top of the levees, they sit on benches to watch her flow and see the ships pass. Other, they enjoy walking, running, or biking along her path. Even dogs like to pass the time on the grassy bottom of the levees, where families picnic.
In the early Spring, after a heavy thunderstorm, she floods. Her floodwaters are a welomed sight to people and dogs alike. People fish, dogs play and swim to beat the heat. However, when her flood waters recede, she reminds us she is still present. The mud and sediment she leaves behind is bitter and reek.
She is famous! Children read about her in Twain's famous book. She is sung about in songs by Johnny Cash and Charely Pride. Native Americans settled near her in the early days. The Civil War used her for strategic reasons. She even has an ice cream in her name!
The sun begins to set, the tugboats and steamboats stop for the night along the edges of her waters. As night comes, everything becomes calm. But she keeps going. Flowing swiftly until at last she comes to a rest at the Gulf of Mexico. And when the sun rises again, she will be there, just like she has been for thousands of years.
No one underestimates her, some may fear her. She is called Mighty, Great, or Big. In her own way, she is all three.
She is the Mississippi River.
Friday, March 18, 2011
A Hike in the Bogue Chitto State Park
It is a cool, crisp Sunday morning after the Washington Parish Free Fair. The sun is shining, and a gently breeze is blowing. It is not too hot or too cold, but it is still a little chilly to wear a light long sleeve shirt.
As I arrive to the gates of the Bogue Chitto State Park, I know my destination: start at the Discover Nature trail, continue on the Gorge (which meets at the end of the Discover Nature trail), take the loop of the Gorge down to the boardwalk, back onto the Gorge at the end of the boardwalk, continue to the Discover Nature trail, take the left loop (of the Discover Nature trail) back to my truck. While it may seem like a long hike, I have been hiking almost every weekend, so I know I am in good shape.
After paying a dollar at the gate and parking in the small parking lot that leads to the Discover Nature trail, I decide to take a look for a few brief minutes at the River Overlook, which is exactly what it is: an overlook of the Bogue Chitto River. As I am stand there all alone, I can hear the water rush pass old dead trees that have fallen into the river. It is very peaceful and relaxing to enjoy those brief few minutes alone.
I start walking down the Discover Nature trail, taking in the sights of the cypress trees, American beeches, oaks, and pines. The gravel trail head is littered with freshly fallen dead pine needles. Even though it is a little chilly, there are patches of sunlight scattered around where the rays of the sun have not been blocked by the branches of the trees. It is just enough, though, to warm me up a bit and at the same time give a nice illuminace to the beauty of the landscape around the trail.
As I approach the wooden bridge that leads across a small creek, I hear a small slash on my right. I turn my head just in time to see large ripples floating outward, as if a turtle that was resting on a log jumped back into the water. I pause and admire my favorite sight: cypress trees growing in the creek, dead leaves floating in the water, followed by the tiny ripple they make when they fall into the water. It almost feels and looks like I am on a bayou somewhere. Every few seconds, I hear the trees and leaves rustle when the wind blows.
I continue the hike, at the end of the Discover Nature trail, I continue onto the Gorge trail. After several minutes of smooth, even ground walking, I stop at the bottom of a steep hill and drink some water. I know what lies ahead: intervals of hills, some steep, some low, and some long.
I make it up the steep hill, and then down the hill, crossing the gravel road to get to the second half of the Gorge. I see a deer corn feeder on the right and the first animal-or rather, insect- of the day: a butterfly. By this time the morning sun is in full force and they day is starting to get warmer. The birds start to become active, with their chirping filling my ears and seeing a red bird sitting on some branches of a tree.
After 45 minutes of hiking up and down intervals of hills, I reach a point in the trail where I can choose to go down to the boardwalk and loop back around going down hill or hike up a long, steep hill, go down the boardwalk, and loop around on even ground. I keep debating which I should take, and at the last minute, I choose the latter. Surely when I reach the top, my heart is pumping and my legs are begging for a rest, but I am satisfied with my choice. I keep going until I reach the stairs that lead down to the boardwalk. Only then do I decide to stop and rest on a wooden bench on the boardwalk.
Sitting under the shade of the pines, oaks, and American beeches offer, drinking water; I take in the quietness feeling of peace that is present. All this time I am thinking I am somewhere else, there is no way I am in Franklinton, in a state park, where there is so much beauty. The wind begins to blow a gently breeze and I become grateful for the cool air as it passes, offering some comfort from the hot sun.
Several minutes later, I continue down the entire boardwalk, climb the stairs, and start back on the Gorge again. With the sun at its peak, it seems like the hills are becoming harder to climb, but I know it is because I am getting hotter by the minute.
As I cross the gravel road again and hike up the last (and largest) hill on the Gorge, I am thankful that I have finished the intervals of hills. At the end of the Gorge, I get back on the Discover Nature trail and come to the restroom area, I take the left loop around the lake. I pause for a few minutes at the edge of the lake, looking for any sign of the alligator that the signs posted around warn of. Not seeing any movement in the water, I continue around the pine needled covered trail back to my truck.
I climb into my truck, a little out of breath, hot, and drinking more water. I look around one last time at the stillness of the lake, the cloudless sky, and still cannot believe that this state park is Franklinton at its finest. I crank my truck, make my way out of the park, and head home with a sigh. I enjoy it so much, I do not want to leave, but I know I will be back many more times.
As I arrive to the gates of the Bogue Chitto State Park, I know my destination: start at the Discover Nature trail, continue on the Gorge (which meets at the end of the Discover Nature trail), take the loop of the Gorge down to the boardwalk, back onto the Gorge at the end of the boardwalk, continue to the Discover Nature trail, take the left loop (of the Discover Nature trail) back to my truck. While it may seem like a long hike, I have been hiking almost every weekend, so I know I am in good shape.
After paying a dollar at the gate and parking in the small parking lot that leads to the Discover Nature trail, I decide to take a look for a few brief minutes at the River Overlook, which is exactly what it is: an overlook of the Bogue Chitto River. As I am stand there all alone, I can hear the water rush pass old dead trees that have fallen into the river. It is very peaceful and relaxing to enjoy those brief few minutes alone.
I start walking down the Discover Nature trail, taking in the sights of the cypress trees, American beeches, oaks, and pines. The gravel trail head is littered with freshly fallen dead pine needles. Even though it is a little chilly, there are patches of sunlight scattered around where the rays of the sun have not been blocked by the branches of the trees. It is just enough, though, to warm me up a bit and at the same time give a nice illuminace to the beauty of the landscape around the trail.
As I approach the wooden bridge that leads across a small creek, I hear a small slash on my right. I turn my head just in time to see large ripples floating outward, as if a turtle that was resting on a log jumped back into the water. I pause and admire my favorite sight: cypress trees growing in the creek, dead leaves floating in the water, followed by the tiny ripple they make when they fall into the water. It almost feels and looks like I am on a bayou somewhere. Every few seconds, I hear the trees and leaves rustle when the wind blows.
I continue the hike, at the end of the Discover Nature trail, I continue onto the Gorge trail. After several minutes of smooth, even ground walking, I stop at the bottom of a steep hill and drink some water. I know what lies ahead: intervals of hills, some steep, some low, and some long.
I make it up the steep hill, and then down the hill, crossing the gravel road to get to the second half of the Gorge. I see a deer corn feeder on the right and the first animal-or rather, insect- of the day: a butterfly. By this time the morning sun is in full force and they day is starting to get warmer. The birds start to become active, with their chirping filling my ears and seeing a red bird sitting on some branches of a tree.
After 45 minutes of hiking up and down intervals of hills, I reach a point in the trail where I can choose to go down to the boardwalk and loop back around going down hill or hike up a long, steep hill, go down the boardwalk, and loop around on even ground. I keep debating which I should take, and at the last minute, I choose the latter. Surely when I reach the top, my heart is pumping and my legs are begging for a rest, but I am satisfied with my choice. I keep going until I reach the stairs that lead down to the boardwalk. Only then do I decide to stop and rest on a wooden bench on the boardwalk.
Sitting under the shade of the pines, oaks, and American beeches offer, drinking water; I take in the quietness feeling of peace that is present. All this time I am thinking I am somewhere else, there is no way I am in Franklinton, in a state park, where there is so much beauty. The wind begins to blow a gently breeze and I become grateful for the cool air as it passes, offering some comfort from the hot sun.
Several minutes later, I continue down the entire boardwalk, climb the stairs, and start back on the Gorge again. With the sun at its peak, it seems like the hills are becoming harder to climb, but I know it is because I am getting hotter by the minute.
As I cross the gravel road again and hike up the last (and largest) hill on the Gorge, I am thankful that I have finished the intervals of hills. At the end of the Gorge, I get back on the Discover Nature trail and come to the restroom area, I take the left loop around the lake. I pause for a few minutes at the edge of the lake, looking for any sign of the alligator that the signs posted around warn of. Not seeing any movement in the water, I continue around the pine needled covered trail back to my truck.
I climb into my truck, a little out of breath, hot, and drinking more water. I look around one last time at the stillness of the lake, the cloudless sky, and still cannot believe that this state park is Franklinton at its finest. I crank my truck, make my way out of the park, and head home with a sigh. I enjoy it so much, I do not want to leave, but I know I will be back many more times.
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