Snow White Has Lost Control Of The Forest
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This is Fruitycake. I would like to begin today’s blog by announcing that Girl Person is still alive. This has become an important way to begin things around here.
First, a bee flew into her pants and bit her. Then a ghiro fell directly onto her head while she was bathing me with two watering cans. And now, a snake has fallen from a terrace, wrapped itself around her legs, climbed toward her waist and attempted to accompany her home by way of her backpack.
At this point, I believe we must accept the obvious.
Girl Person is Snow White.
Not the graceful Snow White who sings beside a wishing well while bluebirds arrange flowers in her hair. No. Girl Person is the discount, wilderness version of Snow White. Her dress is dirty, her hair is sweaty and the woodland creatures do not arrive in an orderly musical number. They fall from the sky, climb into her clothing and wrap themselves around her body while she screams words that Disney would never approve.
Girl Person was walking along the path when the snake suddenly fell from a terrace above her. Now, when a snake falls from the sky, there are several reasonable things a person could do. Girl Person chose none of them.
She ran.
Unfortunately, the snake had landed among her legs, so when she ran, the snake ran too—although not voluntarily. It became tangled around her legs as she tried to escape from the very creature she was taking with her. The faster she moved, the more confused everyone became. Girl Person screamed. The snake climbed. And I stood there trying to determine whether this was an emergency or simply the latest episode of life at the rustico.
The snake made it all the way up to Girl Person’s waist and then became caught on her backpack. Girl Person could not get away from the snake because the snake could not get away from Girl Person. They had entered into a relationship neither of them wanted.
Eventually, the snake got free. Girl Person survived. Boy Person arrived after most of the screaming, as usual. And I began to wonder what all these creatures are trying to tell her.
Because once is an accident. Twice is strange. But a bee in the pants, a ghiro on the head and a snake around the waist begins to look like a meeting.
Maybe the creatures know Girl Person has been questioning her purpose. Maybe they can see that she has felt tired, frightened and unsure of what comes next. Maybe they are trying to remind her that the lives she has always cared about are still finding their way to her—even if their methods could use some improvement.
For years, Girl Person and Boy Person traveled across 48 states with Brickle and Digby, visiting 48 animal rescues and telling the stories of the people and animals they met. After losing Brickle and Digby, coming to Italy, trying to save this rustico and then trying to save ourselves, that purpose sometimes felt very far away.
But perhaps purpose does not disappear. Perhaps it waits quietly until you are ready to see it again.
Or perhaps it drops a snake on you.
On Wednesday, we are leaving for Lake Como. On Thursday, we will visit an animal rescue there and begin learning how rescue work is done in this part of Italy. We want to listen, ask questions and understand what these rescuers need. We want to discover what is different, what is the same and how the lessons we learn can help shape the work we hope to continue when we return to the United States.
This is not simply a trip. It is our first real step back toward the purpose Brickle and Digby helped us find so many years ago. And now it is my turn to place my paws inside their footprints and help carry their legacy forward.
This visit almost did not happen. We needed help more than we ever have, and we received kindness greater than we could have imagined. So many people believed in us, encouraged us, helped us and gave what they could. Every message, donation, prayer, share, kind word and act of support brought us closer to making this possible. We are deeply grateful to every single person who stood beside us. Because of all of you, we can leave on Wednesday. We can walk into that rescue on Thursday. We can begin again.
Maybe that is what the animals have been trying to tell Girl Person.
Stop running away from what is falling into your path.
Fruitycake’s Monday Affirmation
I will pay attention to what keeps finding its way into my life. I will not allow fear or uncertainty to make me run away from my purpose. I will remember that I do not walk toward that purpose alone, because many caring people are walking beside me. The path ahead may be steep, surprising and occasionally covered in snakes—but with gratitude for everyone who helps us, I will keep walking toward the lives we are meant to help.
Even when it frightens you. Even when you do not understand why it has found you. Even when it wraps itself around your legs and makes it impossible to move gracefully.
Stand still. Listen. Look closely.
Your purpose may not arrive with a map or an announcement. Sometimes it arrives as a memory. Sometimes it arrives through a community of people who believe in you. Sometimes it arrives as a dog who needs a home.
And sometimes it falls from a terrace and climbs up your backpack.
Fruitycake
P.S. We leave for Lake Como on Wednesday, and our rescue visit is Thursday!
Thanks to so many generous persons, this important first step is happening—but we still need help with our everyday necessities as we prepare to leave and continue this work. Every amount helps:
Necessities: https://tinyurl.com/2tdnecessities
Venmo: travelingdogs2
Zelle: rachael@2travelingdogs.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/2travelingdogsrescue
And September begins tomorrow! Get Fruitycake’s September Affirmations For Dogs And People Workbook now so you and your dog can follow along with us every day throughout the entire month. It includes 30 affirmations, special activities, recipes and a certificate—and your purchase helps support the work ahead:
Get the September workbook: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RCVRLZ8U4583C
