A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
Went camping this weekend at a campground on the lake, had not been there for a few years. Once there I began to walk around looking at the different sites when I noticed a very old dog. He just lay t...
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The ride back home seemed to last forever as Fella thought over all that had happened. What a wonderful time he had and was somewhat envious of Levi for the soft life he’d had for all of his years. But nevertheless he was enjoying himself now and knew that from now on his life would be much better. The stay at home was short for no sooner had they gotten home than they were leaving again to a place called Hunting Island a state park off the coast of South Carolina that Richard and Sue visited every New Year’s for the past ten years. What a wonderful place for Fella to explore and see the ocean for the first time in his life.
The trip to Hunting Island was about three hours of easy driving. Fella watched out the rear window of the cab of the truck as the country side went by and he could see the changes in the landscape. Once at the campground Richard parked the camper and set everything up as Sue took Levi and Old Fella for a walk on the beach. “Wow” said Fella “what a big lake!” “That’s not a lake Fella, that’s the ocean. The water is salty so don’t drink it or it will make you sick.” Levi said. “Salt water, I didn’t know there was any such thing as salt water?” Fella replied. Man look at the sand and the trees are different from anything I have ever seen.” About that time a pod of dolphins swam by breaking the surface of the water raising to the top and then going back under the water. “Did you see that?” he asked. “Yeah, you will see lots of those while we are here. They are the gentle creatures of the sea.” Levi informed him.
Once back at camp Richard had set everything up so all could sit back and take it easy for the rest of the day. That night there was a glowing campfire as the ocean breeze blew in and cooled things down. You could hear the waves gently breaking onto the shore as Old Fella lay by the fire next to his Dad thinking this is the life. I have never had it so good. Laying here by the fire with my own family instead of watching from a distance I am now part of a life I thought I would never have. Fella remembered the night he watched a family sitting around their campsite at Modoc and wanting to join in as they laughed and talked. He watched from the shadows of the woods afraid to come any closer wishing that it was him lying by the young man’s feet instead of that other dog. How he longed to be comforted and patted but he knew it was not for him, it would not be wise to wander into the campsite because he knew he would be chased away and yelled at. Now as he lay in the warmth of the fire on this night he was with his family, this was his place in time to enjoy the comfort of belonging and to know that when the family went inside the camper for the night he too would be included and he even had his own bed waiting for him to sleep on inside.
Continued:
The trip to Hunting Island was about three hours of easy driving. Fella watched out the rear window of the cab of the truck as the country side went by and he could see the changes in the landscape. Once at the campground Richard parked the camper and set everything up as Sue took Levi and Old Fella for a walk on the beach. “Wow” said Fella “what a big lake!” “That’s not a lake Fella, that’s the ocean. The water is salty so don’t drink it or it will make you sick.” Levi said. “Salt water, I didn’t know there was any such thing as salt water?” Fella replied. Man look at the sand and the trees are different from anything I have ever seen.” About that time a pod of dolphins swam by breaking the surface of the water raising to the top and then going back under the water. “Did you see that?” he asked. “Yeah, you will see lots of those while we are here. They are the gentle creatures of the sea.” Levi informed him.
Once back at camp Richard had set everything up so all could sit back and take it easy for the rest of the day. That night there was a glowing campfire as the ocean breeze blew in and cooled things down. You could hear the waves gently breaking onto the shore as Old Fella lay by the fire next to his Dad thinking this is the life. I have never had it so good. Laying here by the fire with my own family instead of watching from a distance I am now part of a life I thought I would never have. Fella remembered the night he watched a family sitting around their campsite at Modoc and wanting to join in as they laughed and talked. He watched from the shadows of the woods afraid to come any closer wishing that it was him lying by the young man’s feet instead of that other dog. How he longed to be comforted and patted but he knew it was not for him, it would not be wise to wander into the campsite because he knew he would be chased away and yelled at. Now as he lay in the warmth of the fire on this night he was with his family, this was his place in time to enjoy the comfort of belonging and to know that when the family went inside the camper for the night he too would be included and he even had his own bed waiting for him to sleep on inside.
Continued:
