Maggie Mae

Tomorrow Austin and I will be taking a trip east to take Maggie to a new home.  Somewhere that she can be loved by the entire family and live out her days in bliss and less stress. The only way I would consider this is either my folks or someone that I KNOW is an ultimate dog lover because he has had many labs and I have SEEN how he is with her.   

I have had Maggie since she was 8 weeks old. At now 11.5 years she has been to hell and back with me.  I haven't always been the best caretaker for her with my work commitments and lack of yard but as expected, she has been a loyal companion for all these years.  Adding Jazzy to the mix has given her a constant companion when I have been absent for an hour, day or even a weekend and that has been a real blessing.  

As I always knew she would, Maggie has been wonderfully tolerant of the rougher love of a toddler but she has also shown Austin how to love an animal.  One of his first dogs.  

Maggie is a great friend and I know she will add joy to her new family.  God only knows if she will miss me but I have been told I can visit her as much as I would like.

Good girl Maggie.  I will miss you more than you know.

Uncle Mitch

Very few people knew that a I have a beloved Uncle in prison.  He has been in there for over 25 years.  Of the hundreds of thousands of prisoners in the California system, he is a top 100 prisoner, with zero write-ups, service to veterans, never turning down an opportunity to work and continuing his education by obtaining a college degree.  His wife, Tammy, has stayed with him this entire time.  As an RN, she has rented "home", found new jobs and had resisted creating friendships to be within driving distance of each of his prisons.  He moved 5 times in 25 years.  Unbelievable loyalty to the love of her life.

His scheduled parole hearing was this past January wherein he received a unanimous recommendation by the parole board to be released which started the 150 day period for the Governor to approve or disapprove.  True to fashion, the Governor waited the entire time but finally granted him parole!  He will be 60 this November.

I am sad to say that since his sentence, many of our family members have never visited, written him or accepted his calls.  I hope he has found a place in his heart to forgive them.  He has more than made up for any disappointment/shame he has caused in them.  I am thankful my Mother's belief in him was strong enough to allow us to continue to love and grow up with him. 

He has forever had my support and I can't wait to see him OUT of the confines of the prison walls.  And for him to meet Austin whom he has seen via pictures and has been writing to since the day Austin was born. 

My beloved Uncle Mitch.  I hope the world is kind to you and your adjustment is as easy as possible.  Give yourself and those around you a break as everyone becomes acclimated to the new you, the free you.

Xoxo.  Your Niece Jen.