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<RTE_TEXT>I am at home right now and surrounded by love. I should add here that the DH and boys are not around, not that they can't be loving. I am sitting here surrounded by a roomful of love. Maggie is on the couch sleeping on her back with her hind feet on me. Ninja is right above her and the back of the couch scrunched down in the cushion sleeping with her eyes open or so it seems. Marley is in the dad's chair waiting snorily for him to come home and Miss Shelby is in the donut dreaming of snacks or breakfast or just food in general. The only sounds are those of hounds breathing and me typing. Peace. <BR>
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These girls have known upset in their lives. Ninja escaped from her people with her "brother" and when her people came to pick them up at the pound they only took the "brother" back because she was too much trouble. Too many holes. Marley's people couldn't stand her destructiveness; she ate at least one bedspread, sections of carpet, and destroyed two crates. She was alone a lot. Maggie's people got a divorce and moved into apartments that didn't take dogs. She is a yipper and a talker who has a high pitched voice when she wants attention or is jealous. She is huge and has the biggest head. She doesn't know there is such a thing as personal space. Shelby's person died and no one wanted to take care of her. No telling how many places she has stayed before landing here. She is 13 or so. She has lumps on both sides and on her head. She has the shortest legs and a rather layered body--too many layers. Shelby has taken the others in stride. She completely ignores them. She loves to be near us in case a morsel of food lands on the floor or our hands happen to find her chin to give it a scratch. <BR>
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I feel bad for these girls who were originally someone else's loves. They must have been adorable puppies and youngsters. They are beautiful grown up girls. They could be angry or upset. They could be afraid or withdrawn but they aren't. All four come running to the door when we come home telling us about their day. They talk and ask for attention, sometimes demanding it. I feel bad for their other people. They will never know the peace and joy these girls give us every day. But I'm happy for me. I never run out of love and never run short on cuddles. They make sure their people get plenty of basset love. What could be better than basset love x 4? Maybe x 5? Not yet. Maybe someday. <BR>
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I love rescues. Rescues are the most forgiving creatures alive. At least most of them are. Sunny was a big exception to that. Someone treated her very badly as a pup or youngster. They must have kicked her with white shoes. She hated white shoes and feet her entire life. Someone must have hit her with a broom. Hated those too. Someone must have smacked her around with newspapers and hands. She didn't do well with sudden movements or things rolled up. When we got her she was supposedly a year old. She was a beautiful girl. We loved her as much as she would let us but she never forgot those other people and how they treated her. She didn't much like any of us. Josh wouldn't put up with her grouchiness and would pick her up and look her in the eye and tell her to quit and she did. Only for him. He understood grouches very well. He was one of the biggest. When he graduated high school, she had the honor of being in his senior pictures. Other boys took their cars. Josh took his girl. And the entire time the photographer worked, she was a perfect lady. The pictures are priceless. <BR>
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Maybe I'm nuts, but I would be lost without my bassets. On days when I teach, I always take pictures with me. Most of the kids know the girls by name and love to hear stories. They love to see pictures, no matter how plain. I wish I could bring them for the kids to see and touch. We did bring Sherlock when the middle son was in fourth grade. He sat in the middle of 25 kids and let them touch and rub. He was in heaven. <BR>
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Sorry for such a long ramble. Maybe what got me thinking was people talking about why they read the Drool or post to it. I love reading about hounds and seeing their pictures. There are so many positives here. The stories written by the hounds are precious. The posts about problems and illnesses are helpful. I don't know much about things like that. Every day the Drool makes me laugh and cry sometimes too. I learn lots . Keep up the good work. And thanks.<BR>
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Julie with the Southern Illinois girls, Ninja, Marley, Maggie, and Shelby the foster<BR>
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