May 31, Meeting interesting people, and their dogs

Meeting people from all over is one of the best parts of doing this type of volunteer work. They are from all over our big country and the world. So far there have been visitors from Switzerland, Israel, and Germany. Kansas, Wisconsin, Idaho. Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.  There was a school group that came from the small town of Paisley, Oregon and they had exchange students from Argentina and Belgium in their group. 

We also have visitors from Canada and I met this lovely couple from Alberta the other day, Sunny and Shayr. Flat Stanley was here too, but I forgot to get his picture. In case you’re not familiar with him, he’s a paper cut out that 5th graders send out to see how far their Flat Stanley can travel. I had one show up at my house a few years ago and I sent it to a friend in Japan, who then sent it back to the child who sent it to me. It's a literacy program for kids that was started in 1995. You can read more about it here:

http://www.flatstanleyproject.com/

There was also a visitor who asked us if we knew the song, I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper that was played in the movie A Clockwork Orange. I don’t recommend watching the movie to hear it, there are plenty of versions on YouTube one of which I’ve included a link to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTf8iublLc

I’ve put the lyrics in below in case you want to sing along with me on my ukulele:

I want to marry a lighthouse keeper

And keep him company.

I want to marry a lighthouse keeper

And live by the side of the sea.

I'll polish his lamp by the light of day,

So ships at night can find their way.

I want to marry a lighthouse keeper,

Won't that be okay?

We'll take walks along the moonlit bay,

Maybe find a treasure, too.

I'd love living in a lighthouse:

How about you? (Be sure to gargle as you sing here)

I dream of living in a lighthouse, baby,

Every single day.

I dream of living in a lighthouse,

A white one by the bay.

So if you want to make my dreams come true,

Go be a lighthouse keeper, do!

We could live in a lighthouse,

A white one by the bay-ay-hay.

Won't that be okay?

Ya-da ta-da-da.

Not only are there interesting people, many of them have interesting dogs too. All sorts, kind of like chocolates in a heart shaped box.

Toy poodles, Pomeranians and labradoodles,

Pitbull and boxers all mixed up,

Australian shepherds and corgis galore

All of them for me to adore. 

Chocolate, and Golden labs by the score,

Shitzu, French Bulldogs and Shepards, 

Scottish terriers in their tartans for sure.

Red ones, black ones, spotted ones, fuzzy ones too

All to be loved by someone like you.

Kiley