This is Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle.  It has taken me a few days to write about my Monday of this week.  Because it took me a few days to collect myself.

When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I’ll be there

Spending time in this Florida place has given us a chance to see friends and family.  Like Beasley Anne.  Girl Person has a cousin person named Wendy “with an e”.  Beasley Anne is Anne “with an e” too.

And so Wendy Person and Beasley Anne were on our list to see while here in this Florida place.  Without an e.  Cause that would be weird.

It felt like we had just been with Beasley Anne “with an e” watching Anne of Green Gables and eating deviled eggs.  But truth be told, and I always tell the truth, it has been many seasons since we were with each other.  Over a year had went by, in fact.

Together we’ve climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC’s
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

I know that I grew handsomer in this time.  Deputy Digby had got a little more gray.  And Beasley Anne “with an e”? She had gotten a lot more beautiful.

So beautiful in fact, that I wondered why anyone would have let her go.  So wonderful in fact that I could barely think of what would have happened to her if she had not been rescued from that kill shelter in Miami, Florida.  I shuddered to think. But I only let myself think about it for a minute.  I didn’t want any time wasted.  I didn’t want to waste any seasons with her thinking about the past.

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time

As we went hiking, we talked a little bit about the past year and all of the adventures that we had been on and the rescues we had visited.  I briefed her on that.  But she had news too. She told me that Wendy Cousin Person was going to have another little person.  That the little person was hiking with us too.  I didn’t see him, but I knew he was there.  And I wondered.  And I thought about it.  And although we were excited, Girl Person told Wendy Cousin Person that she wished she was having a puppy.  They all laughed because it was a joke.  If dogs could laugh, we would, but instead, Beasley Anne “with an e” told me that she was a little excited about it, and in just a few seasons, her life would change.  Seasons do that I suppose.

Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them, I’ll be there

Sometimes seasons can bring flowers and life.  Sometimes, seasons can bring cold and hard weather.  But one thing is for sure, another season will come after it and you don’t know what will change.  For us, we saw many things on our adventure.  But the seasons and the days flew by.  When we got back to this Florida place, in some ways, it felt like time had stood still.  But when we all looked at each other, I knew that was not the case.

You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground

I had thought of Beasley Anne “with an e” often on our trip.  Because to me, she made me think of all of the other furkids out there in shelters that were never able to tell someone how to spell their name.  She made me think of all the furkids that never got to travel or watch a movie and eat deviled eggs.  She made me think of all the furkids that never were given a chance to be part of a family.

But I had two choices that Monday.  Which in fact was why it took me so long to write this blog.  I could either choose to focus on all of the animals that were not helped.  Or I could focus on Beasley Anne “with an e” who was helped.  And that is what I decided to do.  The seasons were too short to do anything else.

So as we went on our hike and went to a winery for lunch and walked among the vineyards in the Florida sunshiney, I made it a point to freeze this moment in my mind.  I wanted to remember the sunshiney and the way that Beasley Anne “with an e” had come into our lives.

We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

Because the next time I see her, her life will be changed by the addition of a little person.  The next time I see her, the season will be different.  And the next time I see her, I will be handsomer.  That is just a fact.

If days now are spent being sad about days gone by, you miss what is right in front of you.  Even if it wonderful.  Even if it is beautiful.  Don’t do that.  Being your best requires you think about the best parts of your life and appreciate them.

“It’s not what the world holds for you.  It’s what you bring to it.” -Anne of Green Gables 

-Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle