Spent the last day in Alaska hiking up an unknown peak. The sun hung on the crest, capped by a line of high clouds. A band of Dall sheep graze a steep snow covered slope. Living here, there's always the sense that we are witnessing something magical.
Flew from Fairbanks to see Seattle to pick up our truck. Had to see a vet and have surgery. Tore and separated an entire toenail from the nail bed and had to have it removed. Received incredibly compassionate care at the Helping Hands veterinary clinic in Lynnwood, Washington. We are setting up a Sully Fund there to assist those who need financial aid to care for their pets’ needs. The entire sales proceeds from Sage Sully books sold there, along with the magnanimous and unselfish contributions from Aunt Deb and Julie, will help continue spread a little love wherever we go.
Sporting a different colored boot every day to protect my toe, we went to the Oregon Coast. Spent a week of days and nights playing, lounging, and swimming in the cold clear salt water on a seemingly uninhabited private beach. The kind of place where you can do absolutely nothing for days on end and only wish you could do less.
Washing the salt water off my coat, I put on my blue therapy vest and visited hospital in Portland, then on to Sacramento and the Shriners children's hospital. A sweet little girl read Green Eggs and Ham to me, including my name in her reading: "I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, SULLY I Am." Of course that was always my cue to lick her face as she would then giggle and continue reading quickly to get to my part again.
Still working our way south, we stopped in Pasadena CA at an adult care center where walked and visited several rooms for scratches and conversations. I was able to coax a few strips of bacon from their plates as well.
And now... Home. That magic thing of how good it feels to leave, and how it feels even better to come back.
