We woke up Sunday Morning to an ice storm. Some snow mixed in. I got a call at 7 am saying the day trip we had planned was out. By 10 am the caller was calling back to say it had cleared up south of us and by noon we were on the road.
We drove south on Monroe street till it turned into state route 104. Instead of turning toward Fish Lake on 4 we stayed on 104 south to areas unknown to us.
We passed some very cool old graveyards, drove behind a very slow driver and saw two trains pass each other on an old country style railway crossing.
At Walkerton Indiana we headed east on 6. I had never seen Walkerton and I will gladly drive back south and visit this old run down town with my Nikon and exploit them for some cool pictures. It was clearly a déjà vu of seeing old run down Washington state towns for me. It even Reminded me of North Bend’s old town where they Filmed “Twin Peaks”. But no pie shops in this old town.
At 31 there is an intersection with an Arby’s a McDonalds and a Burger king. We headed south again. Joe had seen these towns before but this was all new to me. He had taken Maia out to Muncie to see a boarding school. She however did not get in. But it was a great area down there. And she will visit again in a couple weeks to see Ball state College.
We headed south a bit more past a town called Plymouth. It was well what I expected it to look like. A small Indiana town.
Shortly Past Plymouth there is a sign that says Mexico ½ mile left.
Shortly past Mexico was Peru. And when we got to Miami (Indiana) there was the Grissom Air Force base. If we hadn’t had a goal we were trying to get to we’d have stopped for pics. I need to go back and visit the Air Force Museum.. As a child of an Air force Dad I am thoroughly all about stopping at military planes and gawking. Planes in general.
We then went through Rochester. Wow bleep almost missed it. Then the old Chrysler plant .That was heartbreaking. Old industry dried up on the side of the highway.
In fact Dried up livelihood was everywhere. Sometimes you need to go to the middle and go back out for a reality check.. Reminder of what you have.. To be grateful.
We reached Kokomo a little after 2.
I scouted out the starbucks by the bed bath and beyond and called the person we were trying to reach.
I had gone two hours without peeing so I needed to run in and pee anyway. Lisa beat me to the bathroom. When she came back out We shook hands and I ran off while she talked with Joe a bit.
Then we walked out to meet our destiny.
Flashback to two weeks ago….
On facebook there is a click to feed a pet page. It takes you to Petfinders dot org. I am usually good and don’t go gaga over all the babies that have no homes.
But instead of looking at gifts from the pet store where you can buy a person a cute doggie print swear or slippers and jewelry where the money goes to good use I went dog looking.
I put in my zip code and watched as the doggies and kitties popped up.
Ten doggies down was a dog called Mr Bean.. ok seriously How can you not look?
I LOVE Boston Terriers. I just do. I have wanted one for sooo many years. As far back as I remember.
Usually I just type in Boston and only look at those but today I was pretending to just be curious.. but secretly I was clicking back on Mr Bean ever few seconds.
I was sharing his link with another DJ at the station.. And soon we were posting dogs in the chatroom. Some ugly and some cute. Andrea and Amanda both said go get Mr Bean.. I had already started the process. Maia had by this time came over and was falling madly in love. Dyl was taking to his picture. It was a done deal.
We had almost gotten a Boston mini when Maia was two that she wanted to name spike. So she had her heart set on one all these years.
I had sent in the paperwork to the Boston rescue in Seattle before we got Lucy and only had been called for Pugs. They were also three hours away.
When Lucy died she left a hole in my heart. But worse she left a void for the other pets. It was a ghost town in the house without a hyper dog. As I watch Gretschen get older and sicker I realized she isn’t gonan leave us if she thinks we are alone.
And Maggie cares less about any of us.. She just wants to be alone and I respect that.
Spot is lonely too. He had his doggie buddy to play with and that was taken away from him.
And boys really do need dogs.
Gretschen used to play with the kids. Jump and play.. Now she is a big pillow while they watch TV. We have turned into a retirement village for dogs.
The house was sad.
I knew they called my refs last week so I was just waiting for us to be approved.
Who would not fall in love with this description of a dog
“Name: Mr. Bean
Sex:Male
Color: Black/White
Age:5-6 Years
I.D. Number: N/A
Approx Weight:23 Pounds
Good w/dogs:Yes
Good w/cats: Yes
Crate Trained: Up to 8 hours
Housebroken:Completely housebroken
Energy Level: High outside, mellow inside
Temperament: N/A
Health: Possible glaucoma in eyes but does see fine
Good w/Kids:Yes
Training: Working on all
Fostered In:Indiana
My Adoption Fee: $300
My Sponsors: Sponsor me!
More Info: Mr Bean was found wandering the county. he was taken in by the shelter that took very good care of him. he got along with all their animals and cats. Sense being in our home Mr. Bean has been a lot of fun. he waggs his entire body, loves to sit on laps and watch TV and walks well on a leash. he LOVES KIDS! Bean has weird eyes. the vet said he sees well enough and eyes are reactive to light changes but he just doesn’t know. Mr bean is quiet but when he alerts to a knock on the door you would think he’s a hound dog. Mr bean loves ball and tug o war. he loves to eat and will bring his blankie to you when he is sleepy. Mr Bean would love to share his life and love with you.”

Saturday morning Lisa called. It was the first of 3 calls that day. Almost an hour long each of them. She was like a long lost pet loving cousin. Rescuing the sad little doggies.. House full of them. I immediately loved her.
Mr Bean had been caught wandering around in fields. Poor sad little baby had worn burned paws and injured from sun eyes. He was already seeing better. I heard him bark while on the phone.. I was already in love with this puppy.
We agreed that it was probably a good match but would meet on Sunday to see if it would work. She is almost four hours south so we agreed to meet half way.
Flash forward back to Starbucks.
We walk out to the car and he immediately comes out and sniffs Joe. Gives me a big wet kiss and it was a done deal.. This dog was mine. I didn’t care if he had any issues.
We went back in to get a coffee and discuss the process. He had only marked twice at her house on the first day. He was well trained just dumped. He wasn’t fixed so they had him fixed a couple weeks prior. He was a good dog.
We took him for a walk around the outside of this Kokomo mall. Every child he saw he wanted to go see. Every corner he wanted to mark. He wanted to see things. He wanted to make us love him.
He made the cutest grunt noises when he saw happy things. And then a Black family walked past. He stopped in his tracks and stood looking at them like is that his family?
I realized then at one point this dog had kids. A family and was probably a breeder’s dog. Had they tired of him or did they lose him?
We will never know. But until he made the field his home he was a loved by someone dog. He knows sit and stay and behaves well.
He was tired as we went back to the car. We were taking him with us. Lisa cried. I cried as we had to go away from her. He missed her as we got in our truck.
He got on my lap and made himself comfortable. No crate for this puppy.. He was a pet not a caged animal. Lisa spoiled him too so I knew he would be ok with us spoiling him.
Me and Chester Beans took some pics with my Phone on the way back. Or tried too. He liked to lick my phone drool in my hair and at one point walk across and try to steer for Joe.
I had always wanted to name a Boston Chester and it fit as a great name for Mr Bean. It fit him.
We stopped at that 3 fast food intersection to let him lift his leg in a field. I bought a double cheeseburger and gave him 1/3 of it.. When I ate the last bite he looked up at me and I had to take the last bite out of my mouth and feed him.
A little after 6:30pm we pulled into our driveway.
As we went into the house Gretschen turned the corner.. For the first time in a month her lips curled up into a smile.(yes my dog smiles)(neat trick eh?) She got up and wagged her tail and ran to the new dog.. yes ran. At that moment I knew I did the right thing. Dyl came running next and the dog had already wandered into the dining room.. It was kinda funny to see Dyl try and figure out where his new best friend went. When they met it was love. Dyl hugged and petted him. Spot did the yea you’re cool I’m a dude and not hugging you meet and greet and Maia almost cried. Gwen my scary feral cat raised her back and Bean looked at her like whatever and walked away.. it was classic. It was perfect.
So he did mark a pillow that Maggie sleeps on.. Maggie doesn’t seem to care.. In fact Maggie seams very peaceful with it as long as it stays away from the rest of her stuff. And doesn’t come near her crate. Mags don’t even want the kids in her crate. Or near it.. Ok Mags would prefer the kids in the basement probably.. She is just an old lady.
Beans is a dude dog…He is chill and well behaved. I’d have pissed on Mags pillow too.. Seems like a fun thing to do.
He hasn’t Marked anything else.. so it was strictly a dude move.
The kids all fought over who gets to play with him and finally it was settled they all were on the couch as Maia finally had a shopping buddy on her laptop.
I saw her across the room showing Bean stuff on Modcloth.com
He found the couch to be a special place and when we couldn’t find him for five minutes that is where he went.
He slept with Maia last night, getting up at 1 am to ask to go outside to do his bizness. And she let him out. Apparently he put his paws on her chest and stared at her.
He also snores.
This morning we all got up and let him out at 6. Well Maia let him out and I let him in. then he went back to bed with Maia for 45 more minutes.
He came to make sure I was ok in bed then went down to see Joe.. To check things out.
At 7 he was checking things out again and went back to his couch till he found that the dining room chair in Joe’s jacket was equally as fun.
When he saw the boys get their backpacks on he was right there with him. It was the only time I thought I wasn’t going to win.. He was determined to go to school with them.
He did look around for Lisa a bit.
And was confused I didn’t leave him to go to work. I showed him the chair in my office was comfortable and he has been with me ever since. I had to go Pee a bit ago and he came with me. He really does snore.
It’s amazing how much I needed him. It’s amazing that in one night things seem back to normal here. I think he was sent to me by my ghosts. Maybe one of my friends asked them what to do with me. I am sure I haven’t been easy lately.
I think Beaner is a sign of things to come. Good things to come.. He is reminding me that I am the person who takes in the sad who need me. I am not the one who needs to be helped. I need to be needed.
I am a good person. Thank you Mr Chester Bean for reminding me of that.