And news from his Forever Home with Tami & Dave Somerset and their daughter Amber: Well, we finally have our little Cairn friend! What an afternoon it was. After Mike & Sue dropped him off, he just ran around the house, checked it out, and played. We spent most of the afternoon in the back yard by the pool. I gave him a rubber duck to play with and he loved it. He loved the back yard and the freedom of running around. My new name is Norman; this is my new friend, Rubber Ducky. Later in the evening, my daughter let him out to go potty . . . and there was a baby bunny in the back yard! He ran right after it, but it got away. There's . . . another baby bunny not so lucky . . . he snatched that one up. My daughter was so upset and we went to pick it up, but by some miracle it hopped away. I love Rubber Ducky. Then it was bedtime. He did not want anything to do with the new bed we bought him; he wanted to sleep in my daughter's cozy bed. He just looked at her with his big eyes and cried. She told him to jump up, he did, and he went right to sleep. He slept until 5:30 a.m., wanted his toy, and played until she woke up for school. Rubber Ducky goes for a swim, but will Norman? I can't tell you how fabulous he is. He is very intelligent, well behaved, and just plain adorable! I am working on his barking & growling with his toys, but other than that he is just perfect!!! I guess good things to come to those who wait. Rubber Ducky swam away. I'll go after him another day. Again, many thanks to everyone involved in our getting him! I have another new friend. By the way, he does have a new name . . . Norman . . he already answers to it.

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed, All nicely tucked in my warm new bed. I'd like to open my baggage Lest I forget, There is so much to carry - So much to regret. Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top - Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss, And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame. As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain. I loved them, the others, the ones who left me, But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me. Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack? Or will you just look at my things And take me right back? Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, To never re-pack? I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see, But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me? -- Evelyn Colbath

CONTINUE WITH THE NORMAN CONQUEST HERE