Angel Animals Story of the Week, 3-19-05, "He'll Pick You" -- Angel Animals Story of the Week

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Date Posted: 18:50:20 03/19/05 Sat
Author: Angel Animals Network
Subject: Angel Animals Story of the Week, 3-19-05, "He'll Pick You"

Angel Animals Story of the Week
March 19, 2005
Visit us at www.angelanimals.net

Dear Friends of Angel Animals,

Welcome to the Angel Animals Story of the Week.

Linda was talking with Cuddles last night while the cat watched her typing at the keyboard. Linda picked Cuddles up and placed the cat in her lap. She told Cuddles about how tiny she had been when we first brought her home from the animal shelter. Linda said, "When you were a kitten, you used to curl up in my lap and sleep while I worked at the computer."

After their moment of reminiscing, Cuddles went back over to the table from where she had been observing Linda. She stopped and seemed to be thinking about the fond memory Linda had shared with her. Then Cuddles extended her paw and crawled onto Linda's lap, just as she had as a kitty.

Isn't it grand to let yourself be a treasured baby once again?............

For those of you who have followed Speedy's saga with the Menard's hardware bag, he finally relinquished it. He has since returned to sleeping on the couch. The mystery of his month-long attachment to the paper bag remains unsolved.

In this week's story John shares how he discovered that following the wise advice of his mother allowed a special dog to adopt him, resulting in years of friendship.

We welcome your stories for possible future publication in this newsletter or in one of our upcoming books.

We invite you to e-mail this week's newsletter in its entirety to others who might enjoy it.

Animal blessings,
Allen & Linda Anderson

* * * * *

STORY OF THE WEEK

HE'LL PICK YOU
By John Colanzi

I still remember that fateful day. It was a warm August day with a slight breeze in the air. It was one of those days that made me glad to be alive.

I had wanted a dog for a long time and decided today was the day. I love dogs and wasn't sure what type of dog I should choose. I asked my mother and she said, "John, he'll pick you."

I hopped in my minivan and started on my quest. I was excited. My car windows were open, and I had the music blasting. With the wind blowing in my hair, I could sense that it was a special day.

As I drove down that back road leading to the SPCA, my heart started pounding. I couldn't contain my excitement. It kept building as I got closer. I pulled into the dirt parking lot and decided I wasn't leaving without my dog.

Smiling, I entered the building with my mother's words echoing in my head: "He'll pick you."

I walked to the desk and told the woman behind the counter that I was interested in adopting a dog. With a no-nonsense look, she read me the rules. I just kept nodding my head. My only thoughts were on finding my dog.

She called out for a young girl, who worked there, and asked her to take me back to the kennel. I started browsing the cages. I had mixed emotions. I was happy that I was getting my dog but sad to see all those lovely animals penned up in cages. I wished I could have taken them all home.

As I went from cage to cage, the dogs were jumping and barking. I wasn't sure how I was going to settle on my dog.

I didn't have to decide.

A big, black Lab-mix kept running to the fence and barking at me. His name was Bubba, and he had a beautiful shiny black coat of fur with a white patch on his chest. He weighed 150 lbs. I wasn't sure if I wanted a dog that big. I kept trying to ignore him, but he persisted. That's when I realized that Bubba was picking me.

Finally, I gave in and said, "I want to adopt Bubba."

The girl looked startled and said, "Are you sure?"

The doubts crept back in, but Bubba persisted, and my mother's words still echoed in my mind: "He'll pick you." I hesitated and answered, "Yes."

She put a leash and collar on Big Bubba and tried to take him to the front desk. That poor girl was being thrown around like a rag doll. Bubba was going crazy, and she was no match for him.

When we got to the desk, Bubba got wilder. He kept dragging that young girl around and even rose up on his hind legs a few times.

The woman behind the counter was worried and said, "Make sure you know what you're getting into."

I wasn't sure, but I nodded yes anyway.

Worrying about what I'd gotten myself into, I led Bubba out the door. He immediately calmed down. I walked him to my minivan and opened the passenger side door. He hopped in the van and sat perfectly still. He sat up straight with his chest puffed out. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he had a smile on his face. Anyone watching us ride home would have thought we'd been together for years.

I opened his window just enough that he could have the air brush against his face. His nose was working overtime, breathing in the fresh air. I headed back along that road, and during the whole ride Bubba never budged.

When we got home, I let Bubba out and walked him to the garage door. As I opened the door I yelled, "Mom, I've got the puppy." My mother took one look at the size of Bubba, and I thought she'd faint.

I let Bubba off the leash. He bolted toward my brother's bedroom. He jumped on the bed and straddled my brother, licking his face. You should have seen Dom's startled eyes when Bubba pinned him to the bed. I wish I had taken a picture of Bubba licking him with Dom's eyes as wide as saucers.

After that, Bubba and I were seldom apart. Friends used to joke that he was my right hip. I'm still amazed that Bubba bonded with us so quickly. It was as if we'd been friends in another life. My mother and I would joke that he was Poppy Charlie reincarnated. My grandfather loved animals and always told my mother that he'd come back as a dog.

Bubba has since passed away, but I still have fond memories of the little things he did. I can still see people laughing when I would go into a convenience store and he'd jump behind the steering wheel. Other times, he'd jump up and down, running for his leash when I asked him if he wanted to take a ride. He'd prance down the driveway with his chest puffed out, carrying the handle of his leash in his mouth. He was a classic.

I still miss Big Bubba, and I'm so glad he picked me.

BIO:
John lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia and has been writing online for over six years. You can view his websites at: http://www.johncolanzi.com and http://www.thesimplesystem.net

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

What animals have adopted you? What signs did you recognize to help you know that the choosing was mutual?

* * * * *

ANGEL ANIMALS QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too."
--Samuel Butler

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to."
--Alfred A. Montapert

"A kitten is a rosebud in the garden of the animal kingdom."
--Robert Southey

"I think I may have known Terry [my dog] throughout the ages. She may even be here to teach me that I can satisfy my incessant search for truth and meaning before I die. Perhaps she is a messenger from God."
--Shirley MacLaine, OUT ON A LEASH, p.17.

* * * * *

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANGEL CATS: Divine Messengers of Comfort, GOD'S MESSENGERS: What Animals Teach Us about the Divine, and ANGEL ANIMALS: Exploring Our Spiritual Connection with Animals are available at online or regular bookstores and at many gift shops that sell animal books. ANGEL CATS is also a selection of One Spirit Book Club.

* * * * *

OTHER INFORMATION

The Angel Animals Network is devoted to collecting and disseminating original, true stories about the spiritual connection between people and animals. You can learn more about the Angel Animals Network at www.angelanimals.net.

If you send this newsletter to others (and we hope that you will), please don't change it in anyway and include the information above about the Angel Animals Network. Thank you.

This newsletter is sent to you by the Angel Animals Network. Copyright 2005, Allen and Linda Anderson, Angel Animals Network. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newsletter may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual authors and/or copyright owners. Angel Animals(r) is a registered trademark.

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