Things Can Change In The Blink Of An Eye

There are many scary situations I’ve been in over the years, especially when we were traveling the USA in an RV for over seven years. We had breakdowns on bridges. We barely fit thru tunnels at the last second. We visited a rescue sanctuary and almost got mauled thru a fence by a tiger. Yes. I’ve had my share of compromising situations.

But I also had scary situations when we lived a so called normal lifestyle. I’ve been almost hot by speeding cars in the suburbs. Chased by our family cows in the pasture. I’ve been chased jogging and protected by my dogs from persons meaning to do harm. I think we have all had those moments in life.

But last night was one moment in my life I won’t soon forget. Fruitycake was having a stomach ache. His allergies and medicine for them have been giving him some side effects. And it was around 2 am. He had to go outside, so we went. The night before we had been up as well. So I was tired. And he was too. He went outside and ran to go to the bathroom. He usually stays right by me. But I wasn’t fast enough. And all of a sudden I heard metal. He had fallen off the side of the embankment onto an old building here with no roof but old timbers and blackberry bushes holding it up.  He was standing in the middle somehow…wagging his tail. And just standing there. My heart fell. I told him to stay because there was no way for me to reach him. I ran inside the door and screamed for Nate.

Nate ran outside and was shook. He told me to keep him calm while he got a ladder. He had no plan other than to spring into action. Fruity miraculously stayed and didn’t move while Nate scrambled over to him. Not knowing where the fragment of roof was. It was so dark I kept running inside to get more lights. And when he finally got to him, Fruity climbed on his stomach. We were all holding our breath as Nate tried to pick him up to get him up the ladder. Fruity wouldn’t move. Afraid of falling. So Nate decided to carry him up as I steadied the ladder on the bushes. Then our worst nightmare happened. As they fell off. And they were frozen on top of the blackberry bushes. Nate told me they were going to fall thru. And that we would try to throw Fruity up. But they didn’t fall thru. And instead somehow…I don’t know how…took deep breaths and we prayed.

That’s when I suggested I get his bed and put it on the ladder with blankets on the Blackett bushes. That way we could get Fruity to safety. We did that. And this time seemed like forever. Any second, I just knew they would fall. But somehow this world. Somehow. And we got Fruity to the landing. He sure was scared. And also felt bad for the debacle. I checked him for injuries and quickly put him inside to safety as we figured out how to get Nate up. I steadied the ladder as best as I could without falling over as well. And we did it. No one fell thru the roof. We were ok except for minor injuries. And went to bed.

When we got up late this morning, we surveyed the situation. Yes. This land is different than what we are used to in Florida. Terraces and drop offs.

And yet, this particular danger wasn’t one we thought was immediate. In the blink of an eye life can change. And it’s up to us to quickly take precautions for certain dangers. It’s overwhelming. And many would not have taken on even clearing this land, not to even mention the house. But this is a big lesson. A lesson of safety first. Now. What that means? We need to figure that out.

As much as we love this house and feel like we have a purpose of being here, it’s not a living thing. We are. And it’s our responsibility to do better. Leash next time? Yep. Fencing certain ? Yep.

-Rachael

Any contribution to fencing and other supplies for this rescue house in Italy this week AND some treats for good boy Fruitycake, gets a special snowflake cookie recipe for dogs by email HERE