Journal Entry #1: My Quest
November 17, 2015
Dear Diary,
Today was a good day. It was day number 83 on my quest to get to the United States. I didn’t know what it was going to take, but I knew it was going to be tough. I mean, nothing worth having isn’t worth earning, right?! I spotted her early in the afternoon…she kept ordering margaritas at a local beach bar and then would stare off into the ocean like she was lonely and needed my love. I felt the size of her heart. I couldn’t be certain, but I knew my plan was to lay by her feet all day and then use my charming good looks to eventually make her feel like taking me home to the U.S. was the best idea. I thought maybe the tequila would help sway her decisions and get me off this Godforsaken beach where I have to fight for scraps of food. I mean, I need food…and love…and I was desperate.
Evening was approaching in my hometown of Puerto Vallarta, and I was beginning to think my plan wasn’t working. I was already accepting that this would be another night of trying to find scraps of food and maybe even fight with other homeless dogs for survival. Ugh…I couldn’t do that much longer. I ran down the beach and sat pondering, looking far off into the ocean. But I knew she was the angel that would save me…I found her and she needed me. I just knew it. So I didn’t give up. I wouldn’t leave her side again.
And then it happened.
She gave in. Soon I was following her down the cobblestone streets of old town Puerto Vallarta. We ended up at a place where some human inspected me and put some pointy things in my body. It wasn’t too bad so I just chilled and trusted her. And then I got put in some enclosure that I could see other dogs…but I’m not quite sure why we were all there and they all looked confused. But whatever, I’m not here to make friends and they are all yelling right now anyway…kind of annoying when I’m trying to write. Anyway, she made sure they fed me before she left, which was cool. But where exactly am I? I’m definitely not in the U.S. yet. What have I done? And where is she? I miss her already and hope she comes back soon.
Saludos,
Tito
Mommy’s Memoir
Entry #1: “LIFE IS SHORT AND THE WORLD IS WIDE.”
November 17, 2015
Dear Diary,
A lot of people ask how hard it was to get Tito back to the States. But really, it wasn’t as hard as everyone thinks! I took him to the vet in Mexico for all of his shots and paperwork for getting into the United States. I bought a kennel for him to ride in the cargo of the airplane, and just showed the airlines Tito’s paperwork. I also had to change airlines to Alaskan Airlines, which caters well to dog owners, but did cost me a pretty penny. And then I just braced myself for what I would have to deal with at the airport in the states, which turned out to be pretty much nothing. I just showed TSA my paperwork (in Spanish, haha) at my layover in Seattle and claimed I was coming back into the States with a live animal. And then, Tito was in The United States of America!
Tito’s original name that my friends and I came up with on the beach was “Sandobal,” respectively for his very large sandy man parts on the beach, ha! I changed it shortly after I got home because I wanted a shorter name and thought Tito fit him perfectly. He loves Tito, but every once in awhile when he’s a bad boy I yell “Tito Sandobal!” and he knows he’s in big trouble.
On another note, this trip to Mexico was a “breakup” trip for me. This was pretty common for me. When Sara goes through a breakup, Sara boards a plane to another country. I mean, what better way to move on from something in your life than to see how big and beautiful this world really is! Although this was just a quick trip nearby, it became one of the most memorable and life changing getaways for me ever.
Sara
Journal Entry #2: What is Going on?
November 18, 2015
Dear Diary,
I didn’t get much sleep last night. I kept wondering if she was going to come back and get me or if I had been abandoned yet again.
Then there she was to come save me.
I was so excited it was insane. She put some sort of rope around my neck and we walked back out into the early morning Mexican sunshine. I couldn’t wait to see where she was taking me, but also I didn’t really care. I was just so happy that she came back for me. We headed back to the beach bar where I first met her. Both of us contently looked out into the ocean wondering what was going to happen next. And then she ordered a Corona which didn’t bother me at all…I’m not a drinker, but I think it helped sway her decision to save me so I was cool with it. Some nice man also joined her. I remembered him from yesterday and he helped her carry this big plastic box thing to the beach.
We got into one of those moving things on wheels that I like to jump at occasionally, and I kind of freaked out actually being inside of one. I had no idea where she was taking me but I was along for the ride. By now I’m used to living my life spontaneously and I felt good about this.
Then we got out at this big place with a lot of those moving things and more of those boxes. There was no beach here, just a lot of humans waiting in lines. But I just chilled and took it all in. She looked confused at one point talking to a human in a suit and pointing somewhere else. So we moved to a different line and then they were trying to put me in that big box thing! I hated it…it was like a cage of some sort and I am used to running free. She gave me a kiss, which was cool, and said something in English that seemed like it was genuine but my English isn’t very good at all. And then I was taken away from her again. What was happening? Was I in a box to my grave? Oh no!! Why did I trust her? Now everything is dark and I don’t know where I am. Somebody help.
Ayudame,
Tito
TO BE CONTINUED…
Mommy’s Memoir
Entry #2: Quotes.
November 18, 2015
Dear Diary,
I want to share some personal quotes with everyone from my journal that I wrote the day before and the day of meeting Tito on the beach. All were written before I met him, but looking back now it all seems to make sense. It’s crazy how he saved me as much as I saved him.
“I’m looking out the window of seat 14F on a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico…Whenever I go through a breakup, I board a plane to another country. I mean, what better way to move on from something in your life than to see how big and beautiful this world really is!”
“I recently saw the zen probverb ‘let go or be dragged.’ So here I am exploring the world and letting go. It will be a marathon, not a sprint. So for now, I’m going to sit back and enjoy the ride. More to come on my adventures…”
“Waves crashing, sand under my feet, sun on my face. Salt water really does heal anything.”
“Everywhere you go in this world there are good people. There will also always be bad people, but I like to think way more good people than bad. Attach yourself to them, and make lifelong friends. There’s a big world out there with so many good people that are possibly going through hard times too. Reach out to them and put a smile on a stranger’s face.”
“Step in an ocean. Chat with a stranger. Smile. Life is good.”
Listening to ‘Song for Zula” by Phosphorescent
Bye for now,
*Sara
