I miss my Griffy Magoo! Baaaahaaahaaha :*( And being here with my mom is making me miss him more because she misses him so much. Griffy is happily spending the month with our cousin and her two dogs in Atlanta, roaming in and out of her lovely garden and napping on the cold kitchen tiles as he likes to do. (Thank you C. Hind!) He is happy, I know. But it doesn’t make me miss him any less.
Saying goodbye to my Griffy was the hardest goodbye I had to make when I left the states. If some of you guys reading this aren’t dog people, you may not understand this, (and then I don’t understand you – that’s a whole other subject! LOL) but Griffy was my rock. We were like peas and carrots, cookies and milk, he and I.
I got him as a puppy in 2004 and we’ve been joined at the hip ever since – until my departure in March. It seems crazy that I’ve been gone so long and have adjusted to life without my dog. I never thought I’d be able to live a day without my Griffy Magoo and his low tide breath. Honestly, I did not think I could make it without him. It’s been a difficult adjustment. But here we are in October, 7 months gone, and I’m ok, but I’m still missing him. It’s not as difficult as it was in the beginning, but dammit it still hurts.
I wish he could somehow read my blog and know that I was thinking about him and that I miss him every day. Although if I am wishing for things that aren’t possible, I may as well wish he could fit in my backpack and travel with me. I’m not entirely sure he would enjoy the trip though, so far away from the comfortable life he knows… Hmmm, he probably wouldn’t have done so well with the monkeys in India or the camels in Israel. Yeah, ok Eryn, not your best idea.
Anyhow, I just thought I’d put some of my favorite pictures up of my boy – my Griffy Magoo :*( I miss you every day!
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He always finds a way to be more comfortable than everyone else
Last night cuddling with my boy
“I just called to say I love you!”
“Mom, look, I caught you a lobster!” (Mark R. he still has his special Key West toy)
“Really mom, is this costume really necessary for the 4th of July?”
“Mom, I’m tired of being in this car – why are you taking me to Atlanta anyway?”
“I’ll just be right over here waiting on you mom – I’ll be napping.”
Kayaking in Key West with my boy – good times 🙂
“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” ~ Bob Marley “Go on mom, go on out into the world, I’ll be ok.”
“Do you have a snack for me?”
Morning commute
Griffy reflects on the perfect day
“Awe mom, another picture?”
Yes, I am that woman that will take her dogs to Home Depot… But only occasionally and only in Key West. LOL
OMG they’re so freakin’ cute I can’t stand it… Man I miss that Tess girl.
Griffy always was a good cuddlier
Griffy has this weird habit of sucking on stuffed animals – somehow he always finds the ass end…. My boy is an ass man, what can I say. 
“Enough with the props mother.”
“Is it dinner time mom?” 
On our way to the Christmas parade
Ok, ok, I know I’m bias, but he really is the most adorable doggy!!!
“Mom, do you have an extra fry for me please?”
“So, you’re telling me I shouldn’t jump in after the fish?”
We visited my dad when I went home to Pensacola last Thanksgiving. Wow, that’s been almost a year already – unbelievable!
See, see, ass end of that squirrel!
“Yay, yay, yay, we’re going to the doggy beach!”
Last night with my boy – he didn’t even know what was happening. Even though I talked to him about it on several occasions… Of course everyone understands you talk to your dog. 
Oh geez it was so hard to let this precious little girl go. But she’s happy with her daddy now, although I’m sure she misses me and Griffy. We miss you too Tess girl!
“Uncle Jerry, c’mon, just one more Frito, please! Please!”
The kids loved that I made this special ‘bark-a-lounge’ for them in my old mini – they really did love it, they told me!
“Tess, I really would appreciate it if you would move away from me! Go on now, go!”
“Ahhh yes, the perfect day at the beach.”
Wow, ok, this must’ve been like 2005 or 2006. Who can guess where this is taken? A few of you readers will recognize it – this is at Marina View 58 in Cape Coral not long after we finished it. Wow, that seems like 3 lifetimes ago. 
Ok, this was, ummmm, 2010 – my first Facebook profile pic actually
“This is ridiculous mother! Good thing I love you!”
“Thanks for gettin’ us a doggy bike mom – you’re the best!”
“Oooh, just pull up over here, I see a big iguana I need to check out!” 
“No, I will not move for your business meeting, I’m quite comfortable here.”
“Pupcicles, pupcicles, pupcicles – Yeah, yeah, mom, bring me one!”
Griffy picked out the hot pink seat covers – promise!
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Hey, Griffy says, “Caring is sharing – Woof woof!” Check out the Nolan’s Way page and support him and his family with a cosmic hug, prayer, donation or share 🙂
The Critical Path 
Seeing pictures of you and Griffy Magoo made me misty, wistful, and sad. Franny and I lost our beloved Sydney (a 14-year old male German shepherd-Labrador retriever mix) last August and our beloved Samson (a 20-year old male black Siamese cat) a year ago this month. Fortunately, we still have Bebe (our Norwich terrier) and Delilah (Samson’s fraternal twin) who are my guardians and protectors while Franny is “forward deployed” on the spiritual front line at seminary in western Pennsylvania. But, it’s really not the same.
Perhaps your missing Griffy is a subtle signal for you to stand down for a while, come home for a bit, rest, reflect, figure out what the missing pieces are, and then decide how to best put Humpty Dumpty together again. She certainly is not the same person who left on a trek that has taken her many interesting places with high expectations and great (as well as some no so great) adventures. There is nothing wrong and everything right with taking “a break in the action” to discern and figure out how, when, where, why to proceed. Not recognizing or taking that hiatus, however, could be deleterious to your health, morale, and welfare. You lose your balance, your edge, and that leads to lapses, misjudgments, and mistakes, real and/or imaginary. Take care of yourself, daughter! You and Griffy are well loved and always welcome wherever Franny and I are.
Charley dear – I am biting my tongue a bit in response to your pointed comment and your repeated suggestions to return home. While I understand it was written with a full heart and beautiful intention and I appreciate your words of caution I will say these few things:
1) “Humpty Dumpty” is the most together she has ever been, mentally, physically and emotionally. As for what my future looks like as it pertains to my career, the only ‘not together’ portion of my life – well, I have many roads I could walk down in that regard, and I will choose one when the time is right.
2) Only I will know if/when it is time to return to the U.S. As I’m sure you understand, this is a very personal trek, and yes, I am a different person from when I left. I am stronger now! I will know when it is right to return, whether it is next month or next year, I do not know right now. But I will know when I know. What would certainly have a deleterious effect on my health, would be to conclude this once in a lifetime trip prematurely.
3) You mentioned expectations – I had no specific expectations when I left and that’s what’s made this trip so perfect. Allowing the moments to present themselves and living them to the fullest as they arise. And allowing my course to be altered when it feels right. Even adventures that were far outside of my comfort zone like my time with Siggy in Portugal were all great lessons. (I assume that’s what you were eluding to with the lapses, misjudgments and mistakes comment) But I learned that the world is mostly good and it is the imagined fears within our mind that makes the situation uncomfortable and holds us back.
4) You will be happy to know I have my friend Vicky in London who is allowing me to use her place as a home base of sorts, and it is a place I can rest, reflect and ‘figure out the missing pieces’. I will be returning there for a short period after my mother leaves and before I leave Europe.
I know you are taking this ‘adoptive father’ roll very seriously and you are looking out for me. And don’t think I don’t appreciate it – I do! I know you have very strong opinions about everything and have many lifetimes of experiences to back them up, but we’ll have to find the right balance of cautionary advice and pointed directives, ok 🙂 Oh, and can we not refer to me (or any other woman) as Humpty Dumpty? The image of a big fat egg shaped person falling from a wall, all cracked up – well, that’s just no good for me…
I hope you are adjusting ok to your temporary bachelorhood. I know you miss Franny, but on the positive side, you get to spend more quality time with Bebe and Delilah. And how lucky for you that you have two spiritually minded women in your life who have “forward deployed” themselves into greater development! Hurrah!
From Russia with love,
Eryn
Thank you for sharing, what a cutie!
I remember the puppy in the mailbox picture. I think I still have a copy!
Typed on little tiny keys just for you.
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Yes, thanks so much for handling the edit on that cute puppy pic! That was always one of my favorites and it’s so much better without the hand in it 🙂