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<p class=MsoNormal>Hi Droolers,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>What a lovely, heartwarming story that Londa has shared with
us about the relationship she and Wesley have developed with Cathi and Gaylon
Cox – and it all started because of the Drool. Cathi has said so
many kind words to me about Londa and Wesley, too. I knew better than to
expect an evening call from Cathi on a Tuesday as I knew these 4 people always
met for dinner on Tuesday evenings when Londa and Wesley were ‘driving
through’. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I feel compelled to share with you how both of these
wonderful people have been part of my life the past four+ years because of our
shared love of Basset Hounds. It didn’t start on the Drool; it
started because of Basset Hound rescue efforts. I finally got brave enough back
in 2004 to decide to foster a Basset Hound for North Texas Basset Hound Rescue,
Inc. At the first NTBHR foster clinic I attended, I met this nice lady
named Cathi, her cowboy husband (and I’m talking starched Wranglers,
cowboy hat, boots and a droopy moustache) named Gaylon, and their rabbit-fur
soft Basset Hound named Sam (B. Sad). I could tell they knew a lot about
Basset Hounds just by listening to their input into the conversation, so I
listened and also took notes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A few months passed, and our rescue group began to change
and grow. I was asked if I would be interested in being a foster
coordinator, ‘cause everyone was figuring out that I like people and I
like to talk about Basset Hounds to anyone that will listen to me do so!
Our president at the time became pregnant with her first child, so the responsibilities
of the intake of homeless Basset Hounds needed to be handed over to someone
else for awhile. Cathi Cox stepped up to the plate and took on this role.
Because of how we functioned at that time, Cathi and I began talking on the
phone on an almost daily basis….talking about the homeless Basset Hounds
that needed to come in, if we had a foster home for them to go into, etc.
I can’t tell you how much I learned from Cathi during the ensuing months
that followed about Basset Hounds in general, but specifically about rescuing
Basset Hounds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Even after our roles within the rescue changed, Cathi and I
still continued to talk on the phone often. When Gaylon went into the hospital
for his back surgery on 3/8/05 (yes, I remember the date as it was a date that
changed their lives in a way that sure wasn’t supposed to happen), Cathi
and I began to visit on the phone daily. It’s been that way ever
since.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I was fortunate enough to get to know Gaylon a bit more
since his surgery, too. I found out that he was a graduate of LSU; I told
him ‘that’s okay….at least you graduated from an SEC school!’
(I’m an Arkansas Razorback fan). I also was treated to some of
Gaylon’s good cooking….just a few months ago, I had dinner at Cathi
and Gaylon’s house and came home with some fabulous leftovers! I
also went with Gaylon to the hospital one day when he had an outpatient
procedure and Cathi wasn’t able to get off work to be with him. I
felt so honored that these two felt comfortable enough with me to be there for
them. Unfortunately, this procedure was what discovered that Gaylon would
now be battling lung cancer as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Between the long battle with MRSA, never being able to walk
upright again, then the recent diagnosis of lung cancer, Gaylon always told you
he was ‘doing alright’ when you asked him how he was doing. Although
Gaylon physically fought his medical battles, Cathi was always there supporting
him, too. They both did what they had to do to adjust, adapt and go
forward.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The world of Basset Hounds has brought many wonderful people
into my life; at the top of that list is Cathi and Gaylon Cox. Cathi and
I will continue to have our daily phone calls where we can talk about our
Basset Hounds, other dogs and cats, our daughters (and my granddaughters!), our
loves and losses, and we will also continue to talk about Gaylon as he will
always be a part of the friendship that I have with Cathi……<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Janet Dean<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Jackie, Kim, Kelly, Opie (OMBR foster)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Daisy, Rosie and Maggie all ATB 2004, 2005, 2006<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Lincoln, my cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Cougar, my cat ATB 2008<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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