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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></U> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></U> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Marcia's piece</FONT></FONT></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></U> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">A wonderful approach to memoir writing. By talking about
other peoples’ relationships, you are telling your own story. It’s a discovery
of opposites. Strictly speaking, some of what the writer experiences is filtered
through her own eyes and might be interpreted by other observers as quite
different. However, this is unimportant to the veracity and extension of this
piece. In the end, it is about the author, rather than the couple being observed
on the internet.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></SPAN></o:p></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">A video screen popped up when I clicked on a link to an
Alzheimer's article. Annoyed, I hunted for the control to skip ahead while the
clip began playing. Forced to listen, I soon became
fixated.<U><o:p></o:p></U></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Two women are laying side-by-side on what appears to be a
nursing home bed. I am captivated by their conversation; the cozy scene tears at
my heart. The adult daughter might have been me, the elderly mother with
Alzheimer's might well have been mine, except for the fact that my mother and I
have never once shared an intimate moments like the one I was witnessing on my
laptop.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">Fascinated, I watched, feeling as if I was spying on a
private conversation through a peephole. Jealous, I beheld an exchange of love
unlike any I have ever known, nor ever I will.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">"Do you know you're my momma?" the younger woman
asks.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The mother giggles, confused as to who is whose momma.
"I'll be your momma," she offers.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I marvel at their nearness and familiarity. My mother has
always been averse to forming close relationships. She is distant with everyone,
not just me; I claim that fact as consolation. I am the fourth of six children.
Perhaps there wasn't time for warm embraces. She favored the boys, they could do
no wrong, but Mom did not confide in any one of us. Was she keeping a secret*Did
something traumatic happen to her as a child prior to her marriage and family?
Our mom grew up with loving parents and every advantage, so far as we knew. What
turned her love inward, forcing out only bitterness and anger?</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I am soothed as I listen to the mother and daughter
continue chatting.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt">
<P
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">"Do you know who I am," the
daughter prompts again.</FONT></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">The old woman hesitates, trying to recall her daughter's
name.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">"Well, didn't I name you?" she asks. "So, I'm loving'
you," she adds.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">'And I'm lovin' you at the same time," the daughter
replies.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">They laugh and meet eyes, expressing delight at the
shared wonder of love.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">How now, after more than 60 years of distance, can I
expect to experience a moment so precious with my mother? We have never been
near. I can't even recall sitting on her lap as a child. It is painful to
observe; these women who are strangers to me have what I want.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">No longer conscious of the day on the calendar, my mother
is now in her 90s. The time for closeness for this mother and daughter has
passed.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">I reach for the phone, eager to call my own
daughter.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">----</FONT></P>
<DIV
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<P
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class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Deanna's
piece</FONT></FONT></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN></U> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I
sm</FONT></FONT></SPAN></U><U><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">iled through the entire story.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The anecdotes were delightful.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The piece was full of information and
details. Generally I Blanche at a lot of details, but I found all the details
relevant and engaging.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This chapter
in the book you seem to be writing further expands the readers connection with
the writer and her dog. Tammy’s personality and character keep expanding in the
reader’s consciousness. So is it true of the writer. The writer uses a
multifaceted, changing environment and circumstance with craft which mixes
information, humor and challenges. All in all, a great read.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I didn’t notice
any thing in need of editing, but that is not my forte.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">My mom, baby sister Christina, Tammy and I
drove north from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Santa
Ana</st1:City></st1:place> in late August. We were headed to the small
farming community of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Turlock</st1:City></st1:place>,
located<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">in the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San
Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType> near
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Modesto</st1:City></st1:place>. I
had been accepted at both <st1:City w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:City> and
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Stanislaus</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Colleges</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, but found the idea of living off
campus<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">and learning my way around <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:City></st1:place>
overwhelming. Stanislaus was actually smaller than the high school I had
graduated from in June. It was then<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the youngest of the California State
Colleges. The dormitory was located across highway 99 from the
college. There was a pedestrian signal
activated<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">by a push button to permit students to cross
the highway. Then we had to follow a tarmac path through fields a long way
to reach the two buildings that<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">made up the campus. The library,
cafeteria and administration offices were in one building and all classes were
in the other. A field house was the
only<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">additional structure completed when Tammy
and I started our freshman year. The college was barely ten years old and
most of my professors were holders<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">of P.H.D. degrees. Except for some of
the freshman introductory courses held in the theater, classes were small.
When the college had first opened, some<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">classes had to be held in barns at the
fairgrounds. So our unflattering nickname among the other Cal State
Colleges was Turkey Tech. Rather than
being<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">stung by this designation, we had a cheer
that went, “Gobble gobble, that’s our cry, Turkey Tech, do or die!” The
cheering crowd broke out with an imitation<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">of a turkey gobble. It was a lot of
fun. Actually, the school wasn’t an agricultural college but was noted for
its business department.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Mom helped me carry in my things and I sort
of rushed her off because I was scared and didn’t want to prolong the
good-byes. I left my door open and put<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy on a tie-down while I unpacked.
Two girls from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Stockton</st1:City></st1:place> who had known each other in high
school came along and introduced themselves. Annie
Williams<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">became my best friend during our freshman
year. Like me, she was the first member of her family to go to college and
the eldest child in a family of five<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">siblings. We were both able to attend
college because we had won scholarships and qualified for education opportunity
grants. Although she was an art<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">major while I was leaning toward psychology,
we had a lot of things in common. Cathy Dent was more outgoing and
interested in the social scene. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">All freshmen were required to live in the
dormitory, unless they had a waiver signed by their parents granting them
permission to live off campus. The<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">dorm was an L-shaped two-story structure
with a separate cafeteria building and a swimming pool located between the two
buildings. It was co-ed with women’s<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">rooms upstairs and men’s on the ground
floor. The entrance was at the junction of the two wings. Tammy and
I had the third room along the left
wing. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">We didn’t have a roommate. The dorm
wasn’t completely full and it was decided that rooming with a large dog might be
too crowded for anyone to share the<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">room with
us.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">My room had two beds, two desks with shelves
above them, a large closet and a sink. It was connected through an
adjacent bathroom that held a shower and<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">an enclosed toilet to the room next
door. Two older girls shared that room. Sandy and Virginia had
attended junior college and were transferring to
Stanislaus<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">as juniors. They were from <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place> and were
friendly. Another upper classman named Carol came by and invited me to
join her and some others for tea<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">in her room after I finished settling
in. I began to feel a little less nervous. Everyone seemed eager to
help make me feel at home. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The freshmen started off on a bus the next
morning to attend a freshman get acquainted camp in the mountains. There
was a dance and several activities<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">designed to give us a chance to meet and to
be talked to by upperclassmen and teachers. Tammy never stopped wagging
her heavy otter tail as we moved with<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the group from one area to another. It
didn’t matter to her if we walked on a dirt path or a sidewalk. She
followed the crowd and located a seat or
whatever<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I asked such as the exit or entrance
door. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy enjoyed the opportunity to meet and
greet each new person that we encountered. I made the first time guide dog
user mistake of allowing everyone<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">to pet and fuss over my beautiful
girl. She was definitely an icebreaker encouraging people to approach and
introduce themselves to me.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">When I was fourteen years old, I had decided
that I couldn’t afford to allow my natural shyness to continue. When you
are different from others, people<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">who don’t know you tend to keep their
distance. I realized that if I wanted to make friends, it was up to me to
make the first overtures. My high
school<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">classmates were generous about helping to
carry my heavy books or braillewriter, but it didn’t occur to them often to
invite me to join them in after school<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">activities. Tammy made everything so
much easier by serving as a topic of conversation. Other students
approached us to introduce themselves, rave
over<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy’s beauty, and ask questions. They
talked about favorite pet dogs and that led naturally in to discussing other
topics. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR
style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always; mso-break-type: section-break"
clear=all></SPAN>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">If someone offered to show me how to get to
the dining hall or other place, I knew I could find it again with Tammy’s
help. If I wanted to go to a concert<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">or play held on campus, I could just go on
my own and friends came over to sit with us. I was no longer dependent on the
time schedules of others. If<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I needed a break from the noise of the dorm,
I could take a quiet long walk confident that I wouldn’t get
lost. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The only hitch in all this was that I soon
found that everyone knew Tammy’s name and almost no one remembered mine.
Since DeAnna seemed to transform into<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Diana, Dina, Daria, Dena and almost anything
else that began with the letter D. I started using <st1:place
w:st="on">Dee</st1:place> to make things
easier.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Our room was next to the pay phone for the
two women’s wings. The phone rang and rang. Finally when I couldn’t stand
the noise another minute, I gave<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">in and answered it. Sometimes I
got bored saying “Yosemite Hall.” I substituted “Hello, devil speaking.
Who in hell do you want?” Or using my
sultriest<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">voice I’d vary my routine to say, “Good
evening, this is Peggy’s house of fun and games. Who is your pleasure?”
That one got me in trouble when the caller<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">was one of the other girls' mothers.
Things usually went something like this. The call was for someone at the
other end of the hall. Tammy and I ran<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">down the corridor only to find the girl
wasn’t in her room. Then we ran back to take a message. I typed the
note and we ran back to the right room to<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">post it. This gave us lots of practice
locating rooms and meeting more people. Tammy became so popular, that a
group of fraternity guys decided to run<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">her for freshman princess. They made
up posters claiming that she was a perfect size twelve, (her collar size) and
had a winning personality. Everywhere<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">we went, people called out greetings to
her. I began to feel invisible!<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy loved to wear a string of bright
beads, scarf or other ornament. Annie gave her a blue plastic peace symbol
and she seemed to know she was especially<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">pretty when decked out in any little bit of
finery. Her step had an added bounce and became almost a prance. One day,
we walked past a yard where some<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">students were holding a barbecue. A
girl’s voice exclaimed, “Look at that beautiful dog!” Then a pleasant male
voice answered, “The girl’s not bad
either.” <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I felt like doing a celebratory dance.
I wasn’t invisible after all. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">One of the people I met at the freshman camp
was a quiet young man named Curtis Noriega. He made such a fuss over
Tammy, she hurried toward him in any<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">crowd to say hello. It wasn’t until we
had been going out for a burger or movie on occasion, that he admitted he didn’t
really like dogs. He preferred<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">cats as pets.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I discovered that I would have to put a stop
to Tammy’s desire to meet and greet her friends. When she saw Curt
as we were coming down the stairs at<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the dorm, she surged forward pulling me off
my feet. I fell badly spraining an ankle. Some lessons just have to
be learned the hard way.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">It is often difficult for the general public
to understand the insistence guide dog handlers must make that their dogs not be
spoken too, petted or fed<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">by everyone. They are so beautiful,
intelligent and friendly, people long to reach out to pet or speak to
them. However, a moment’s lapse in
attention<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">to their job can cause a serious injury to
the person they are guiding. Seeing a friend across the street might lead
them to start the crossing without<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">checking for traffic. A scrap from
someone’s lunch could upset the dog's stomach, causing an embarrassing accident
at a crucial moment. It could impair<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the dog’s ability to guide due to feeling
ill. It could lead to bad habits like begging or scavenging.
Un-authorized snacks might also result in an
unhealthy<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">weight gain and shorten the guide’s working
life. For both our sakes, I had to curtail Tammy’s social
interactions.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">As winter set in, a group trip was planned
for those living in the dorm to go up to <st1:place
w:st="on">Yosemite</st1:place> for the weekend. I was still finding it
difficult to manage<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">on my sprained ankle received when Tammy
bounded down the stairs to greet our friend Curt. Since I had already paid
my fee, I decided to go. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Sandy</st1:City></st1:place> and<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Virginia, the two girls from the room next
to mine asked Curt to drive us up into the Sierras. Since he drove, the
girls didn’t want him to stay in another<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">cabin, in case we wanted the car. He got
teased about his four female roommates, three human and one canine.
However, we each had our own bunks. Since<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">all of us were quite modest young ladies, he
wasn’t treated to any free floorshows. Everyone got to practice
getting into pajamas with lights turned<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">out. Tammy loved the snow. She
thought catching and eating snowballs great sport. Also high on her list
was burrowing through snow banks rolling and<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">snorting. Of course this necessitated
a vigorous rubdown with a towel upon our return indoors. The trip was fun
and Tammy and I had many more visits<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">to this lovely valley in the Sierras over
our years as a team. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I put up a one foot Christmas tree in my
dorm room and discovered that my dog loved packages as much as I did. Two
of them were of particular interest<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">to her. She took every opportunity to
steal and try to open them. The crackle of the paper always gave her
activity away. When I heard that sound
I<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">demanded the return of the plunder.
One gift was actually for her. I don’t know how she guessed that, as it
was in a box. Perhaps her nose led her
to<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">believe that no one would be giving me a
rawhide chew toy. The other present though was one meant for me. It
was a closet sachet filled with some kind<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">of scented mixture of flowers and
herbs. This made me wonder if there was a comparable plant to catnip that
appealed to dogs included in the blend.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy loved the cold. Whether we
walked through the central valley fog and rain or into a brisk sea breeze, her
pace and pull increased as the temperature<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">dropped. Best of all she loved walking
through falling snow. Her tail wagged constantly. She could brace me
over patches of ice if I slipped, but just<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">loved striding out into a cold wind.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy’s retriever soul manifested itself in
a new way. She began to pick up things she could easily carry in her
mouth. She didn’t chew or damage
them. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">However, I did feel obligated to pay for the
can of soup, bunch of bananas and candy bar she carried to the checkout line at
the grocery store. Odd tennis<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">balls, ashtrays, and candlesticks began to
appear in our room. I finally solved this tendency for indulging in
kleptomania by giving her a small change<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">purse to carry when we went out. It
didn’t interfere with her guiding, and eliminated her desire to appropriate
other people’s possessions. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">She loved to retrieve anything I dropped and
proudly presented me with lost pocket change, my shoe or anything else she
thought I was searching for on<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the floor. Soon she associated a name
with my sweater, or jacket, my tape recorder case, my backpack, her leash and
harness. I could ask her for any<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">of these items and she dashed to find and
bring them to me.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Her habit of making a dive for anything I
dropped was finally curbed when I accidentally allowed a bar of soap to slip
from my hand. Not realizing that<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy had snatched it up. I kept
searching the bathroom floor. Finally, Tammy thrust the bar of soap into
my hand and charged off to get a drink.
After<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">this bubble blowing misadventure, she waited
to be asked to retrieve dropped articles.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy’s skill at choosing good footing made
it possible to work safely at any speed. When I hadn’t allowed enough time
to make it to a class, she enjoyed<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">covering the distance along the paved path
at a dead run. Although she moved quickly with a strong pull on cold,
windy or foggy days, on hot sunny ones,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">she hurried across hot tarmac and slowed
down to walk in the shade of trees. Whatever our pace, she focused on her
work. Her alert eyes scanned for
hazards,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">took note of people and animals but
concentrated on navigating the best course to keep me safe. She took her
work very seriously. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tammy had an exceptional memory. One
day when I was wearing new sandals, I left the classroom building by a side
door. I slipped on rain slick
steps. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Whenever I subsequently used that exit,
Tammy approached those steps cautiously. She seemed to think that they
were likely to cause me to slither down<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">them again if she didn’t take special
care. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Her sense of fun was a constant source of
laughter to everyone. I was taking her out on leash to relieve when a
football whizzed past us. Tammy was
off<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">after it in a flash. Catching it by
the laces, she entered the impromptu football game being played by some of the
fellows from the dorm. It took them<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">nearly ten minutes of chasing her around the
swimming pool before she returned to me so I could give back the ball. If
she got bored watching me study,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">she began a game of tossing her tennis ball
for herself and chasing it around the room.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Her favorite toys were ones with squeakers
in them. I am sure people were slightly concerned about that poor blind
girl’s sanity when I took her shopping<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">for a new toy. I made each type on
offer squeak and placed it on the floor in front of Tammy. She sat cocking
her head listening to the sounds.
Finally,<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">she picked one from the line in front of
her. After I replaced the rejects, she walked proudly to the cashier
carrying her selection so I could pay for<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">the winner. Life with my best friend
and college roommate was never dull.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
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class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cleora's
piece</FONT></FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I like this version a
lot.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s interesting and engaging.
There is also a satisfaction in seeing a bad guy getting his come-up pings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s also good to see the victim getting
the upper hand and destroying him. It’s especially satisfying when the person is
handicapped and a woman besting a male blowhard. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The comments below are
for discussion. I’m not convinced they are valid points, but since they occurred
to me I wrote them down.</SPAN></U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR><BR>John gently
tugged on the slot in the side of the sliding glass door of his soon to be
x-wife’s house.<BR>"HA!" he thought. No matter how long she lives she will never
learn.<BR>The door slid open almost silently. <BR>"Fault, patio door," announced
the security system.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Why would the patio
door announce anything if it was not turned on? I know from the last version
that she forgot to lock the door.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>But I would not know that from this edition.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This may not be an issue for those who
know how security systems work, but I suspect that most people are not security
system savvy. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>He slipped through
the opening and gently slid the door closed.<BR>He wasn't worried about the
security system giving him away. Linda, he knew, would be in the shower at this
time of the morning and not hear the tell-tale announcements of his
entry.<BR>Confidently, he walked to the kitchen.<BR>As always, there was an old
fashioned metal kettle filled with water on the small back burner of the
stove.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">He is pretty brazen
and perhaps foolish to depend so completely upon her following her usual
routines<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>He clicked the
knob clockwise to the high setting.<BR>Then, he went down the hall to her
room.<BR>He found and opened the jewelry box that he knew would contain one of
her diamond bracelets she was planning to wear to tonight’s fund raiser. She
always took it out of the safe ahead of time.<BR>How many times had her lawyer
and insurance agent warned her it was best to wear a paste imitation? Oh well,
all the better for him that she doesn't listen.<BR>Dropping the bracelet in his
breast pocket, he walked casually back to the living room, sat down on the
couch, crossed his left ankle over his right knee, clasped his hands behind his
head, and leaned back to wait.<BR>His eyes stared blankly at the back wall of
the kitchen. Soon it would be over. She would be dead before the divorce was
final. The pre-nup gave him a divorce settlement of half a mill, but if either
of them passed while married, the entire estate of over 10 million dollars in
property, cash, and securities would be liquidated and divided equally between
himself and her four adult children.<BR>Two mill was definitely better than a
half.<BR>He planned to stash everything under a loose pavestone he had found in
the border around the flower garden at the park. After the will was settled, he
would tell everyone he was taking a trip to <st1:place
w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> to heal from the loss of the love of his life. He
would fence the necklace there. Or, maybe he would just give it as a present to
some sweet young French girl. <BR>He smiled riley to himself as the kettle began
to whistle.<BR>"That's funny," he heard Linda say as she opened the door to the
bathroom. "I don't remember turning on the kettle."<BR>John chuckled quietly and
shook his head. Still talking to herself. She will never change, he
thought.<BR>Hum, for some reason, she had gone back to her bedroom. He was
beginning to wonder what was up when, at last, Linda came down the hall and
crossed the living room on her way to the kitchen. She was dressed in her dull
brown corduroy housecoat; her right hand resting in its only pocket. A red bath
towel was wrapped around her freshly shampooed hair.<BR>She strolled right past
him with only a brief glance at the patio door. He knew that the RP had advanced
to the point that she had no or very poor peripheral vision and could not see
anything in the area where he was sitting.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Using the initials RP
might be confusing to people who don’t know about eye diseases. It might be
better either to describe the eye issue before naming
it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>Turning around to
face the stove she removed her hand from her pocket to turn the knob to the off
position.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><U><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Knowing, from the
first rendition, that she has a gun. I assume it is in her pocket. In that case,
why did she remove her hand from the pistol toting pocket to turn off the
kettle? Why didn’t she use her other hand to do so.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>"Don't touch that
dial," commanded John taking the small pistol from his pocket and pointing it at
her.<BR>"You really should reconsider locking that patio door," John said rising
from the couch and stepping around the coffee table into the dim light so she
could see his form.<BR>She looked toward the sound bringing him into her field
of vision.<BR>He smiled wryly as her eyes grew large her mouth dropped open in
surprise, and her hand dropped back into her pocket.<BR>"But, I guess you won't
have any more time to change. The story in the papers will be so sad” It will
read something like:<BR><BR>The young heiress was discovered by a friend late
Saturday evening when he came by to pick her up for a fund raiser being
sponsored by a local club. It is believed that she was killed when she surprised
a burglar who entered from the unlocked patio door. She had apparently forgotten
to set the alarm so the police were not summoned.<BR>Her heart broken husband of
15 years said he had warned her time and again, but still she would leave that
patio door unlocked.<BR><U>That’s quite mouthful.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m not sure it is realistic for him to
deliver that little speech without hesitations.<o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR>The sound of the
kettle whistling muffled the gun shot.<BR>Her arms went up as she staggered and
fell backwards.<BR>He waited but there was no sound. He lowered his weapon. He
thought about going into the kitchen to make sure she was dead, but he was an
expert marksman and he was sure he had not missed. He just couldn't bring
himself to look at her. He turned to leave the way he had come.<BR>"Don't
move."<BR>startled, he turned to see her standing behind him. She was holding a
small pistil in both hands. As she raised it to eye level and aimed it straight
at his head her dressing gown came slightly open at the neck revealing a light
weight bullet proof vest.<BR>“I knew I should have made a head shot," he
said.<BR>"I knew you had come when I heard the kettle whistle. I texted Rob next
door and he called the police. They should be here any minute. You know, I think
I should just blow you away right now. After all, you did shoot at me. The paper
would talk about how devastated I was to find that I had shot and killed my
estranged husband thinking he was a burglar.<BR>It will explain how with my poor
vision damaged by RP, I was unable to recognize you at this distance and just
shot at the figure of the intruder.<BR>The paper will quote me as saying, 'Sure,
we had our problems and we were in the process of getting a divorce, but I never
wanted him dead. I just feel so bad. It never occurred to me that he would try
to rob me.' It would be a just reward for all the verbal and mental abuse you
have put me through over the years, not to mention all the toys you have bought
yourself with my money, don't you think?”<BR>"you know you can't do it."<BR>"you
think not?"<BR>"If you were going to, you would have done it already." John
began to raise his own weapon.<BR>"Fault patio door."<BR>John's head whipped
around to see a policeman and their neighbor Rob stepping into the living
room.<BR>"Freeze," said the officer who was pointing his service revolver at
John.<BR>John dropped his pistil and raised his hands.<BR>The officer picked up
the gun, and cuffed John's hands behind his back. "I'll need you to come down to
the station and make a statement, Ma'am," he said.<BR>Linda went and turned off
the stove and moved the shrieking kettle to a cool burner.<BR>Rob was standing
next to the officer. "I'll bring her down as soon as possible," he said.<BR>John
was charged with robbery and attempted murder.<BR>"with your statement and his
history of abuse, there's no question he's going away for a long time," they
assured her at the police station.<BR>"Thank you" said Linda. "I feel I can
really move on now." She looked up at Rob and smiled. “And, thank you, Rob, I
don’t know what might have happened if you and the officer hadn’t arrived when
you did.”<BR>"It looked like you had things well in hand," said Rob. "In fact, I
get the feeling we may have saved the jerk's
life."<BR>"Maybe</SPAN></P></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>