One+One=One

                         It turns out that two people together can complete each other.

    Bones is amazed by Deb. The fact that as a woman she has managed to carve out a career in a male dominated world simply astounds him. She has managed to secure herself a little piece of the pie. She has a nice house and a great job doing smart stuff with computers.

 Bones has spent his life at the beach riding waves and etching out a living from odds and ends. The sad fact is that retirement benefits for living off the grid don't seem to amount to much. He pretty much has nothing of any consequence to show for a lifetime of singing surfing and trying not to mess up the planet.

The other night I heard them talking, and let me tell you these two can talk. Sometimes they both talk at once and still seem to have a conversation. The gist of this exchange was about how Bones felt a little guilty about not having more stuff to share with Deb. Deb it seems is amazed at Bones and how he has two  really neat boys to share his life with.

 Jesse and Daniel,  Bones' kids are like night and day. He loves them with all his might and I love them also. Throw Megan in the mix and he has a lot of energy from some pretty powerful humans in his life. He knows he is lucky. Now he knows that Deb is really happy to share this love.

Deb has provided herself with a good degree of security in the real world. It took a lot of hard work and Bones admires this.

Bones has two wonderful kids that through no doing of his have become amazing adults. Deb has grown to love them in a short time and considers it a privilege to share her life with them. Of course there is the Megulator a force of nature much like Deb.

Simple really, as Meg puts it the two of them together make one whole person.    

Thats is the trick for each individual to help the other shine and appreciate who they are.

Next time: Are there universal truths about women and men?  

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger

 Remember what matters, stuff comes and goes, love remains.

Listen to your second voice:

     The first voice is the one that comes out of your mouth; this is the one that gets you in trouble. Bones' first voice has gotten him in hot water for years. When he used to drink alcohol his first voice got him in many altercations. I hear tales that Bones had a very strange fighting technique. He would hit the other guys fist with his face real hard. If that didn't work he would hit the second fist with his face harder than before. Bones lost a lot of fights.
  
The second voice is the one inside your head. Bones calls it his Indian voice. This is the voice that told Bones not to get in his car the day of the accident. True it is that Bones and my life has changed for the better since that day. That said, his second voice also told him to get a little more serious with Deb before any of this occurred. Either way the lesson is we all have that voice inside. I guess it could also be referred to as the voice of reason.

  We (Bones and I) used to be hard cases. We did everything with our first voice. In my new life my second voice tells me to get along with my cat roommates. This is working out very well. I got in a fight the other day, but my second voice told me to go for it. Some habits die hard. Bones' first voice  is worried that this new life of love, comfort and some sense of security will make him a softy or somehow less of a man than he used to be. His second voice is telling him to shut up and enjoy the ride.

  This is the time of year when humans pretend they are listening to their Indian voice. The truth is there are more rash actions and thoughtless violence at this time of year than any other. The roads are a mess, the dog parks are crowded, and the mood in general is at an elevated level.  
 
  No matter what you believe in, no matter where you are from, please try to listen to your second voice. Step back from the madness, take a deep breath and just be happy with what you have and who you are.

Smile, love life, you will be amazed at the love you get back.

Hugs from the new hill: Cash Fargo Bellinger
 

The first Thanskgiving

    
It's official. We are moving to Solvang and, yes, I am stoked. It is a big move for Bones--he has been in the same place for 12 years and has not had a girlfriend for a long time. Compromise is tough;  not for me but for Bones.  As good as he has it here, he is learning to be on his best behavior. Today Debbie would not let him comment on face place and sequestered him in her house. The situation involved 2 police officers outside the driveway. He just wanted to politely ask them what the heck was going on. Deb, or the source of all things good in my life, was afraid he would cause a ruckus. It seems he has a history of creating problems with the authorities.

The next 3 weeks will involve a lot of driving, moving from Ojai to Solvang. Bones and Meg and Jess have a storage area in Carpinteria--a half-way point where Bones can sort his stuff. He has a lot  of musical equipment and is very sad to have to leave his music room behind.The fear is the band will die without his house to practice at. I won't miss the band nor the music, it was loud and I always had to stay in the house while they played.

I will not miss Ojai.  It is cold, the floors have holes, there is no insulation, and the bathroom floor is falling in. The landlord is what they call a slumlord and, most important, I only have one couch to sleep on.

Thanksgiving at Deb's cousin's house was a blast. Not only was I allowed to attend the party, there were 2 girl dogs fighting over my affections.  I have gained 8 pounds at Deb's house. When I first came here I had on a harness that was way too large for me. Now it is a nice, tight fit. I cut quite a swath at the dinner party.

Today Debbie took me for a walk.  A big dog attacked me.  As we were scuffling,  Deb yelled, "Cash, Cash" and the other owner also yelled,  "Cash, Cash".  It turns out we were both named Cash -- the good Cash and the bad Cash. I am the good Cash.

If Bones gets thrown out he can live in his van I am staying here.

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger

This ain't no stinking trailer park

That's right folks I have been kick-in it in a sweet mobile home park. I told you that Murphy's mom took bones in after our accident.She has been gracious and giving. I hate to say it but it took another near death experience for us to land in such a great place.
I have the run of the house and as far as I can tell I have my own bedroom that I sleep in at night. Bones hate to owe people and he still feels helpless in many ways, I know about fighting back from the brink and I feel for him.
At the same time that I feel for him I love it here. The cats and I have a deal worked out, Murphy is the king and Percy and juju play games with me.
  I have a couple toys that are all mine I never really knew how much fun squeeze toys and balls were untill this period of my life. I think Murphy and I get along because we are both survivors. Murph is a tough old guy and he deserves respect so I give it to him. Last night we made a Debbie sandwich I was asleep on one side and Murphy on the other side of the bed. I can make myself weigh 100 pounds when I sleep so no one can move me.

Bone's youngest son moved back to town he is staying at our house in Ojai and driving our old truck. Bone's loves that he can share something with him. Sometimes he cry's for no reason. He tried to hug me the other night got down on one knee and forgot he could not bend the other knee. Deb had to help him up. On his birthday Jess and Meg came up to Solvang to see him, Deb made an incredible meal for everyone. Bones cried a lot. I know how he feels friends and family are what matters most.

Bones is kind of an emotional baby right now he wants to hug his family and loved ones but it hurts too much.

I have a field up here I go to when Deb gets home. There are a thousand squirrels running around it is no leash and no bag I love it.
So as of this post all is well in the animal kingdom I am just about done with my pills. It is time for my afternoon nap I just don't know which couch to crash on. Oh yea I got to see Roxy a while back we had a play date and it was fun. It seems to me I am now the older boyfriend and she defers to my experience.

Hug the ones you love while you can. Tell your family you love them.

Hugs from the hill. Cash Fargo Bellinger: 

   

Crash Dummies ( The Catalyst )

Hi folks, Cash here.  Sorry about the delay, a lot has transpired since the end of my last chapter.

Bones and I got in a horrible car accident.  His car spun out in the rain on the mountain road that we travel almost every day. We got hit by a very large truck. The truck hit the passenger side where I was sitting.

The sound of the impact was horrendous, louder than thunder and it felt like lightning might feel if it struck you. The truck was going 40 mph and we were sliding sideways at 25 mph. Bones was knocked out and I was also knocked out. When he came to he looked over at me to see if I was alright. I was far from alright.

When I regained consciousness the realization that I had almost died again triggered my flight response.

Flee I did. I jumped over Bones and took off as fast as I could and I ran up the curvy mountain road in the rain.

I could hear Bones yelling Cash, Cash, Cash, he was frantic. We have been through a lot together and our bond was becoming very solid and now this. Bones jumped out of his crumpled metal box and he tried to run after me. His knee would not work, he was having trouble breathing, and he was crying because he thought I was gone.

After the crash many people stopped to help Bones.  There were surfers he knew, there was a doctor that stopped and he told bones to stop moving around in case something was broken inside him. Bones explained that his dog (me) had run off and he felt helpless. The energy of the universe smiled on us both when a very nice man asked if he could help. Bones told him of my peril and he grabbed my leash and drove off to find me. I was done running, my senses had returned and I just wanted to get back to Bones. I needed him before, he needed me now.

The guy found me a long time later and took me back to the crash just as the cops and the paramedics showed up. Jesse arrived at the same time and the man with me on my leash handed the leash to Jesse.

Bones was relieved I was safe with Jesse. Bones has a broken sternum,  some broken ribs,  a crushed knee and a bruised ego.

They loaded Bones on a gurney,  turned on the siren,  and off to the Trauma center he went.

Thus starts chapter 2.  Murphy’s mom Deb came to the hospital and she offered to take Bones home to her house and care for him. He explained that I was part of the package and the offer was nice but he could take care of himself. It turns out Bones could not walk and his pain was so pervasive Deb broke him out of the hospital.

That is how Cash Fargo Bellinger moved in with Murphy, Jujube, and Percy -- 3 cats, 1 dog,  Deb  and Moans.  I have been bonding with Murphy, he is the head cat here. I am now the strong one and I have been there for Bones.  I cuddle with him when he is able.

Without Deb things would be very bad for us. I love it here.  I sleep on whichever couch I choose.   I have been practicing my cat imitations and Bones is slowly able to walk again.  This is just the beginning of a long painful journey. I got better.  Bones will, too.

I know how much I mean to Bones and how much he means to me.  I am enclosing a picture of the car. As you can see we are lucky to be alive.

Oh by the way I get to stop taking my medicine.
I am so happy to be alive and I hope you are all happy, also.

Hugs from the hill: Cash Fargo Bellinger

The common denominator

First off let me bring you up to date on my medical condition.

The  last I reported I was going for a visit at the hospital to have my liver checked.

I started with 2 aspirations that morning: one was that my liver would be alright, the other that I would no longer have to take the pills that keep the little living brain munchers from coming back and killing me.

50% is not bad in many arenas. If a baseball player comes to bat 100 times and he gets 50 hits he is batting 500. That is a good percentage in the base ball world. If a doctor operates on 100 people and 50 of them die that is not a good percentage.

In my case my liver is fine. The not so good thing is I have to takes the medicine for at least 6 to 9 more months. I choose to equate it to a ballplayer, I am batting 500. 

The doctors who had met me before were genuinely happy to see me again.

 They were all surprised at how much more confident my demeanor was.  I let them pet me and rub my head. I know these people helped me and I felt good showing them how far I had come. Some were even fans of my Chronicles. When you look at it that way I was a celebrity.

Where is Bones in this post? He was busy being what Jesse called a candy striper to the plebeian dogs and cats. He is truly impressed at the work these doctors do. The waiting room is always full of animals in different stages of some disease or injury. Every animal here has been referred by a vet who was simply not able to deal with what ever ailment or injury these critters had.

This day there was a dog with cancer. another dog with 2 broken legs. 2 cats in very bad shape many others  and  me with aspergillosis.. I was the healthiest dude on the floor.  I  had empathy for my brothers and sisters who were just starting on their journey of pain. If the others knew how far I had come it might help them have a positive attitude.

As I said Bones was amazed at how many lucky dogs and cats were there. When I say lucky I am referring to having humans love them enough to bring them here. The doctors are the best and it is very expensive.

The parking lot was filled with brand new very nice cars. In the middle of these cars is a 1986 honda, that is my car. I guess the point I am making is despite the fact the other animals had richer humans the love Bones feels for me is the same love everyone in the hospital felt for their pals.

Bones  wants to pet and say something to everyone's furry friend. Some people are a little sketchy when he approaches.

 One guy said his dog doesn't let any one touch him. The poor dog had 2 vertebra removed and could barely crawl. When bones approached him the dog crawled toward him to get a hug. It had to be a very gentle hug so as not to hurt him, but his owner was taken aback. Bones can't help himself he toured the whole lobby petting touching and talking to the patients. Any where else in any other situation these people would not have allowed this. In this building on this day all the owners let their animals share love with Bones.  

The up shot is: I have to take my pills for a long time. This is the end of chapter 1 of the Cash chronicles. I am a new dog, I have a human family of loving people and chapter 2 promises a lot of laughs.


Love is the common denominator:

Hugs from the hill Cash Fargo Bellinger

The green eyed monster:

                  Relationships are tough you have to  think of the other person you are involved with.

Being alone means you can do anything anytime and think anything you want. If you have been alone a long time you forget that other peoples thoughts are not the same as yours. If you want to know someone in a meaningful fashion and have them in your lives you have to be willing to compromise. 

Relationships come in many forms, really any time you have to deal with another entity for any extended period of time you have a relationship with this person. There are work relationships where people work all-day together but in many incidences never see each other out side of the work place.

Their are social relationships where you may meet a group or person once a week to dine or drink or go to a movie.

Then there are committed one on one relationships where two people commit to each other body and soul share each other thoughts feelings pain and triumphs. 

There are human and animal relationships. Bones and I have a relationship he is there to feed me, walk me, pet me, rub my head, let me out when I have to go, pick my poop up in a bag. Hey what is that all about? Where do they take it? I take a lot of time and effort to find just the right place to leave my refuse.  I could just do it in the bag.

Bones and I are learning to compromise. I let him sleep on my spot on the couch at night and in the morning when he gets up to lift his leg I take his spot in the bed.

Sometimes he isn't up for a walk on the beach so he sets up the umbrella. I sleep under it whiles he sleeps next to me. Boring but compromise is what it is all about.

Roxy and I are in a relationship, I think she is a little jealous of my being number one. She tries to lay down by Bones sometimes and I growl or nip her to let her know it is my spot. I love her but she is no longer the princess. She was here first but now I am the man.   

 Humans are sometime jealous of others that have more stuff or money or power.

I am a little jealous when Roxy leaves to go with Jesse and Megan. 

There is a feeling that exist within us all, it can kill a good relationship.  

 This feeling effects most every kind of relationship office, social, man animal, or committed.

Jealousy is stupid and petty, be happy with what you have and cherish the ones who love you.

Hugs from the hill: Cash Fargo Bellinger