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<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Hi Drool family. Wesley and I were out on the
road when we heard from Cathi that Gaylon was in the hospital.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2>This time things were different. We were so far
from Cathi and unable to visit as we are always in Fort Worth on Tuesdays
because of our truck route.. but this time we were broke down in
California. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> On that early Monday morning Cathi called
us to tell us that Gaylon had lost his long battle, but not with his back
surgery injuries, with Cancer...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> I was driving the big truck, we were in
New Mexico or someplace i dont remember now, nor does that matter, but suddenly
i was sitting in Dallas /Ft Worth area in our truck backed to a dock.. a small
bundle of basset/beagle energy was in my lap and a stranger i had met on the
Daily Drool was walking up to our truck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Cathi Cox. She entered our world of
trucking bringing friendship and laughter and love, and in a couple of weeks
after she had a honest to Goodness cowboy with her..Gaylon...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> The friendship was like magic. Wesley and
Gaylon became instant friends, Cathi and I were already there, because of the
love of basset hounds and their ways. Trey-c told me there was no one better or
sweeter then her miss Caffie. and no one was above her Mr. Gaylon..
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> When Cathi was involved in a car
accident we worried and called often to follow her recovery.. we waited until
she was able to ride in a car again then held her so tight when we finally got
to see her again,,,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> BEcause of a little basset hound named
Trey-c these two people became our best friends..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> On every tuesday we could manage, Cathi
and Gaylon would drive to our dock at the airport and pick us up and we would go
and have supper together..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> They ALWAYS had time to stay extra at the
dock to visit with Trey-c who waited in the big truck for us to return from our
meal. Trey-c would just have fits over Cathi, loving her and covering her with
snooter kisses, and shedding hair but Cathi never minded...Trey-c would do the
basset 500 for Cathi as well playing with her and barking running in circles and
jumping on Cathi playing the basset tag game...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> But with Gaylon, Trey-c was always
gentle,,, it was like she seem to know he was special and not able to play as
hard as we could.. she would gently place her paws on his lap and offer him
kisses and hugs, always gentle and in mind of her claws on her feet..careful not
to claw him.. our hounds know far more then we think they do..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> in the years that followed as Gaylon
fought his battle with the aftermates of a back surgery gone wrong, Treyc would
be even more gentle, Gaylon would stay in the car, it was just to painfull for
him to climb in and out,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Trey-jc would stand at the side of the car
and wait to be invited in to see how Gaylon was on that tuesday.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> She would very gently stand on the car and
lay her head in his lap and he would rub and pet her and tell her things only
She and he could hear.. Her tail never stoped wagging.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Some nights after Cathi would come to
visit us with out Gaylon, he was just to tired or sick at the end of the day to
come see us.. we understood.. She would have to open the car door for Trey-c,
who was looking for her Gaylon, Trey would climb in to the car and look
everywhere for Gaylon,, then sadly climb out and walk sadly back to the
truck, head and tail hanging down,,, she knew somethingwas not
right...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Then we lost Trey-c... she was taken from
us stolen out of our fenced yard as Wesley lay in a hospital recovering from
knee surgery..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> We looked and posted signs and
rewards and even had so many kind offers of help from our family here at the
drool.. We still search for her but she has just vanished..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Cathi and Gaylon shared our loss.. and
they helped us get thru..as did our family here on the Drool... we moved
on..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Then Zero came into our lives as a pup
and Cathi and Gaylon welcomed her with open arms as well..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> I cant go on.. the key board is wet
from my tears, the love and hurt of losing our best friend is just to
painful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Because of Nancy and a puppy she
had, her starting the drool, me finding the drool because of a sassy little
basset we had, Then finding Cathi and Gaylon, because of our truck route comming
so close to their home...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> a friendship that endures all
things, the worse thing being miles and miles apart when we need to be
together... but knowing we are what we are because of the love of basset
hounds...and their slaves... we are better people....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Cathi, when you see this know that
Wesley and I write it with our hearts broken but love you more then ever.. we
will continue our friendship because that is how we are..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> and TUESDAYS are always open
for us..</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> when the time is right
we will see Cathi again,, we three are going to celebrate Gaylon in grand Texas
style.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2>and i know he is up at the Bridge with all of
his beloved animals that were waiting for him there...smiling down on us as
we lift a glass and toast him...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2> Londa and Wesley</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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