Leaving
- rachael0824
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
This is a continuation of The Girl In The Orange Grove series on how we ended up in Italy from the USA
Brickle and Digby. Two individuals in dog forms that would forever change my life. As long as I have a body on this earth that breathes in air thru my lungs, I will breathe in them. Because they are part of the air, the earth, and me.
Adopting two dogs from a shelter was a life altering experience. I realize that most people would simply disagree with me. Perhaps you have brought many dogs into your life. But I truly believe that when you allow the infinite possibilities of that connection to happen, you will be directed towards what and who you were meant to be. Apparently, I was meant to have dogs with over a million social media followers and a blog that was read by even more people to completely change the way the world viewed animal rescue. Because there is no other explanation for this path I’m still on.
In 2011, we made the decision to sell that yellow house in the orange grove. The house next to my parents, my aunt and my cousin. The house we had built ourselves meticulously with our own hands. The house that we felt had literally trapped us into a life of endless work schedules, stress and anxiety. A house that was still going to really hard to leave.
We had taken a vacation, just Nate and I to California. We decided to check out Sonoma County. We spent the week tasting wine and good food. We hiked and hiked some more. We loved this place!! How lucky we would be to live here! How much Brickle and Digby would love it here! Oh, we imagined it. Seemed like a good dream. As if we could ever leave Lutz, Florida. Hey. But could we? On a whim, and maybe it was the wine talking, I made up a song. “We are going to live in California” and yes, that was the extent of it. Did I actually think we could do that? Nope. But Nate did and he ran with it. We started looking at houses and decided we had to do it, we just had to.
I had an idea that telling my parents would be hard, and telling Granny would be hard. But I had no clue how hard. Just this experience alone caused me years of pain and I am only just now able to talk about it. Does it sound dramatic? It was.
If you can imagine being the first one in your immediate family to leave an area that takes up a whole block with nothing but your family, also imagine having your house right in the middle of everyone. Imagine walking out your back door to your parents house, sitting in their living room and exclaiming you were not only leaving but selling the house. Did it go over well? The opposite of well. And a time for Nate and I that should have been exciting turned in to year of back and forth, taking sides and at the end? No one understood anyone else’s sides.
Brickle and Digby were officially traveling dogs. I started a website and blog to show people how to move with dogs to get a free moving truck. That Facebook page was born. And there was no turning back. Or was there? Little did I know, we would leave, but come right back to that orange grove.
-to be continued
-Rachael
We do have an important message today…
We started this blog in 2011, and have tried not to let you down since! We need you as much as you need us, and it’s been our pleasure to share in your day…every day! We are asking for support now, and if you have enjoyed our blog, content or animal rescue focus and mission, can you take a moment TODAY to join our Patreon pages? In order to show we have support for our new sanctuary planned for wildlife and animals and outreach with worldwide rescues, we NEED to show the authorities that be we have your support. $5 a month for each page is all we ask IF you are able! Thank you from our hearts…
As well, if you also want to show your support with a note to this cause and your belief in us, you can do so here.
Venmo travelingdogs2
Zelle: rachael@2travelingdogs.com
Many have asked what our current pressing needs are this week and that’s groceries and plumbing supplies! Links are below but most of all, thank you for being you…
Groceries https://tinyurl.com/Fruitycakeblog
Blog Support https://tinyurl.com/July20252TD
Rescue Sanctuary https://tinyurl.com/UTCVision
Paint Mold and Mildew Removal https://tinyurl.com/Paintandmold
Venmo travelingdogs2
Zelle: rachael@2travelingdogs.com
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