My Precious Jewelz

Well I'm actually writing this on August 1st. Although I have taken a photo each day for Blip I have not had the heart to post ... In particular this post ... But I feel now I ought to.

I had intended to post a last photo of Smiley Camden as a last California day and had snapped a quick shot of him sitting on his Nana's knee getting his shoes on to go to day care
But
My Jewelz decided the photo would be of her.

I received this photo of Jewelz first thing in the morning (Ca time). It was afternoon for Jewelz and Cathie had just brought her home. She was happy to be on her own bed back at home. I was so happy to 'see' her. And in just a couple of days I would be with her.
By the time we got to Salinas, Cathie had called to say she had taken another turn and needed to call the vet. I spoke to Jewelz on speaker phone and told her how much I love her and gave her a kiss, which she heard and turned toward. She settled right down after that.
We continued our journey toward the airport, willing Jewelz to fall asleep by herself, which she tried hard to do, but in the end she needed a little help and I waited in the car park of a Carol Jr's near Gilroy where we had broken down, for Cathie's call.

All I can say is how privileged I was to have enjoyed Jewelz company and loving friendship for (almost) 15 years. She was truly a most beautiful gift from God.

And I was privileged to have my eldest nephews shoulder to cry into, along with my mom's and my sister's. And because we broke down I got my goodbye hug and kiss from Doug who I had missed before he went out to work.

Friends of Audrey's came to take us the rest of the way to the airport while Doug and Devin continued to work on the Suburban and take it back down the road.
That whole scenario had been orchestrated by God!
Sarah had been grocery shopping with her daughter when she felt really strongly that she should just give Audrey a call there and then and just ask if there was anything she could do for her! When Audrey said what had happened and where we were going she didn't hesitate to drive us all the way up to San Fran!

The scenario at the airport was not smooth or straight forward either as the airline said that the company I'd booked with had cancelled our tickets!!!
I won't go into the full story but God made it so that Audrey and Sarah were not far away when I needed to call them back! He made it that Sarah did not get hassled or ticketed for hanging around in the drop off zone waiting to find out if she was taking us all back or not! And through the wonderful British Airways who got us on a flight home, God gave us a more direct, hassle free flight home, that although leaving 4hrs later arrived in Glasgow at the same time! (We actually made the same connecting flight from Heathrow to Glasgow that we should have been on!)

I was thankful for the 'space' when all around me fell asleep and the cabin was quiet.