This is Fruitycake. If anyone knows my Girl Person, you wouldn’t say she’s good under pressure. Well, she simmers a little, ok. Until everything bubbles so much it bubbles over. I hate cleaning up marinara sauce. Actually, I like it. Never mind.

This weekend she was struggling a bit to keep her cool. In all the ways. The heat makes her irritable, and when she’s irritable, I would say even her cooking is a little spicy.

It was too hot to walk very far. It was too hot to walk a short way. So we just went to the end of the path and sat down by the other little waterfall for a change of scenery.

There are a lot of tourist people here right now. And they get lost a lot. For some reason, they think that our path leads to a destination. If they are trying to get to the land of broken dreams, well, they are on the right track. Just kidding. A dog has to have a sense of humor, right? 

We watched a few start up the path, but since it’s none of our business what they’re doing, we let them. Maybe they want to see the Mamma Mia rock and yell, “Mamma Mia!” 

Maybe they want to see the crow that watches over his land. 

Maybe they have heard the tale about the American black and white rescue dog who owns the place. So we just let them walk.

Many of the tourist people come right back down. All frustrated and sweaty as a baked potato.

But as we were walking up, back home, we heard some familiar sounds. In the sweetest southern accent we’ve ever heard. “Are those blackberries?” Yes. A familiar language. And as Girl Person turned around, she said, “Yes, they are blackberries.” And they said, “You’re not Italian. Are you from the States?” 

And there it started. A conversation that lasted two hours. A tour of the rustico and the land. Talking, laughing, encouragement from a girl named Grace and a boy named Mark from that South Carolina place.

It may have seemed like chance that they got lost on the path. But to me, it was not chance. They were to bring laughter and familiarity to my persons. They were meant to give hope to coming back to the States. They were meant to tell my persons that they had done a good job. That they were to be commended for trying. And that they would be waiting back in that South Carolina place.

The heat has been unbearable. But so has the loneliness. The heat never stops. And yet doubt runs circles around it. Hope has been lost in the heat. But was carried up the mountain.

Girl Person got many hugs that day. She needed it like water. Boy Person got many laughs. He needed it like orange juice. I threw up from eating too much grass, and they needed the laughter even though they didn’t know they did.

You may be carrying something someone unexpected needs and not even know it. Did Grace save Girl Person that day? She honestly did. Grace was a superhero. And a hero of hope. And me? I’ll continue to try and uplift everyone despite my own struggles. I have them too. Because that is what friends do. And I love you.

Fruitycake

P.S. From Fruitycake: We really, really need some help right now. If you’ve ever thought about joining our Patreon, please make today the day. Even a $5 monthly membership gives my persons something they desperately need right now—support they can count on while we try to get through this heat, sell the rustico and get ourselves back to the States so we can keep helping animals. You’ll also get our daily blogs, audio blogs and more from me. 🐾

Please join us on Patreon:
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If you’d rather help with an immediate necessity like groceries, fuel to keep the fans running, or my care, you can also help here:

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Thank you for continuing to believe in us when we are trying so hard to believe too.