After our stop to get Chet's baby chipmunk, we finally made it to
Beth's after driving through miles and miles of farmland, corn fields,
and past the remote and creepy cross roads that we sped through because
visions of Jeepers Creepers and Children of the Corn swept through our
minds. We pulled up into the drive way, and I had to peel Chet away
from his baby chipmunk ... and his surprise "friend". After stiffly
exiting the car, we were met with a blonde woman sporting a flashy,
huge smile. Beth!! Oh how I've waited for this moment, and it was
nearly ruined by my zombie like state from the horrific drive and
overdosing on antihistamines in preparation for what was to come. Fear
not, Beth had enough energy and enthusiasm for all three of us. In
my mind I was rubbing my hands together furiously like Butters from
Southpark and chanting, "critters, critters, critters."

Beth, somehow raced us through a complete tour of our home and the
shelter so that we could make it back home in time for Chet's music
appreciation test. How do I start? I guess with the start of the tour.
Duh. We started in the barn where I saw a one legged chicken who is
living a life as best as he can. A quality of life that only Beth would
ever attempt to give him. And then, I saw true Guinea pig and bunny
heaven. Half the barn housed free ranging piggies and the other half
bunnies. I have severe allergies as well as moderate asthma. I had to
stand there in the middle of dozens of soft, doe-eyed squeezables and
could not hold them. Torture. And the torture only grew from there.
Thank goodness I could live vicariously through my son whom Beth tossed
animal after animal to. Beth is an avid believer in the hands-on
experience and nothing but. I finally came to understand why during my
visit. Touching makes it real. Touching makes you connect. Touching
makes you empathetic. And touching you calls to the cause. Both animals
and humans benefit.

The next step was to meet Cassie. I have two candidates for an arranged
marriage for Chet. Beth's and Stacy Lamb's daughters. I was about to
meet a possible daughter in law. Shut up. I can dream can't I?? Cassie
lives on top of the barn and with most of the reptiles. It is the ONLY
quiet place on the property. I have seen many, many types of reptiles
over my life time because fish and reptiles are my only safe pets. But
I have never met such beautiful, happy, healthy ones before. I held a
huge, bearded dragon who had amber eyes that followed us everywhere.

I can't remember the sequence of what happened next during the visit
because I was completely numb from the last couple of days and the
driving. But I'll try my best to give you an idea of what I experienced
there from that point.

[Posted in FML 6503]