This is Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle.  If there was ever a day to step out in one orange shoe, it was yesterday.  Deputy Digby had it going on.  And he let no one rain on his parade.  Because he kept raining on his shoe.  He needed no help with that.  Good thing it is waterproof.

The persons thought it would be good for us to get out of the campground for a bit and take a drive to Cherokee, North Carolina.  It was a sunshiney but cold day. We were all bundled up and took a little drive to a trail on the river.

We knew that we couldn’t go far because of Digby’s foot.  We didn’t want to undo all the healing he has done so far.  And he has a really long way to go to be all better.  So we took it slow and as sweet as maple syrup.  Digby liked that.

Seems just like yesterday Digby didn’t have to wear a shoe.  Because he just got them a few days ago. I kind of miss that duck tape foot and all of the questions that occurred because of it.  It seemed to be a nice conversation piece if you wanted to have a conversation, which I generally do not.

As we were walking along the river trail in Cherokee, North Carolina, there was a lot to see.  When you have to go slower, because your brother is wearing one orange shoe with a hurt foot, you notice a lot more.  But we didn’t see that elk in the bushes.  Boy Person did.

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I have looked at elk from afar before.  In the Grand Canyon, I remember one at camp.  Here in Cherokee, North Carolina, the persons told me that many years ago, the elk were hunted and that led to them disappearing.  So sad. The last of the eastern elk disappeared from North Carolina in the 1790s! The National Park Service successfully reintroduced elk to the Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001.  Which is where we went yesterday.

Girl Person told me that elk here in the Smoky Mountains in Cherokee, North Carolina can get up to 800 pounds, and their antlers can get to be 4 or 5 feet tall!

So when I heard that, I knew that we had to keep Digby and his orange foot away from this elk.

His antlers were growing as we stood there.  Girl Person said that they can grow up to an inch a day! Digby wasn’t impressed with that.  He said if he wanted to, and put his mind to it, he could eat many pancakes and his belly would grow way faster than that.  But I had no desire for the elk and Digby to talk this out.  I’m pretty sure the elk would not be the one to back down.

The persons made sure we got out of there, even though I was intrigued by those antlers. But the odd thing was is that more people were intrigued by Digby’s orange foot.  They kept asking what happened and what was wrong with him.  Even though there was an elk right there! But Digby did not seem to care one bit.  Little did they know that just a few days before, a duck tape foot had been his fashion statement.  This orange shoe was progress.  Even though it kept getting loose and Boy Person kept fixing it.  It wasn’t all fun and games in Cherokee, North Carolina.  But to Digby, he wasn’t going to let anyone stunt his progress. Just like the elk wasn’t going to let anyone stunt his growth.

There are are going to be things in your life that you have to work through.  Sometimes you have to wear duck tape to keep walking.  Sometimes, one orange shoe.  Sometimes you have to make adjustments to that shoe to keep walking.  Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t.  Some people may tell you it is no use, that you should just stop walking.  Some people may tell you that you can’t do it.  Don’t ever let them stunt your growth.

Even if you aren’t healing as fast as you want to, you will get there eventually.  Sometimes, something may scare you into turning around, like that elk.  But acknowledge the obstacle, respect it and move along.

Digby has a long road ahead in his orange shoe.  But I think that maybe, just maybe, he is teaching others with it along the way.  If there ever was a dog that could wear one orange shoe with pride, it is my brother.  And if there ever was a dog that was happy to be seen with one dog with one orange shoe, it is me.  We can all grow in life if we learn from the things that try to keep us down.  And instead of listening to others who try to bring us down, listen to the ones who try to build us up as big as an elks antlers.  We can let their words grow in our hearts.  They are out there.  But you may have to look for them.  Keep walking until you find them.  But if you find an elk, I suggest you leave him alone.

We have a special video today on our Facebook page and Instagram TV at 11 a.m. ET on Cherokee, North Carolina! Don’t miss it!

-Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle

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