Monday, March 2, 2009

Picnics and Parades

After posting yesterday's progress report and having so many of you cheering us on, I thought I'd better let you know where all this is going ... eventually ... I hope.

When I adopted George and Alan from the BLM a year and a half ago, I had very limited exposure to long-ears. My sole purpose in bringing them into the herd was to have easy-keeping companion animals for the horse that got left behind. I thought they might serve as livestock guardians and figured I might see them every now and then, if I got lucky. After all, they were wild burros – they would probably hate people and never come near me. Who knew?

I had a few treasured stuffed animals as a kid - Jocko the chimp and Petey the blue dachshund. I talked to them, slept with them, took them everywhere, and wished every day that they would come alive. Well, having George and Alan around is like having stuffed animals that come alive. Their gentleness is astonishing, their intelligence humbling, and their personalities are simply off the charts. If everyone knew burros like I now know burros, then everyone who could would have a pair. Simple as that.

As I've shared my life and times with George and Alan through this blog, I think I've made a couple of converts. If just one more BLM burro gets adopted because of us, I will die smiling. But I want to do more. I want to be an ambassador for burro adoption. I want George and Alan to go forth and show the world that burros need not be beasts of burden, but sources of smiles and princes of peace and kings of kool. And that is why I am teaching them to drive – so that we can proudly walk down Main Street in a 4th of July parade, waving to the crowd and preaching the gospel of burro adoption.

Can't you just see them, side by side, pulling a cart like this? With "Fabulous BLM Burrito Brothers" painted in red with gilt trim along the sides? I'm still trying to imagine what I'll be wearing, besides my hat with the snakeskin hatband. My kingdom for a stylist...



So that is our goal - to be in a parade. It will take a lot of work, and it won't happen quickly. But it will happen. And we'll practice by going for Sunday afternoon drives to explore the land around us. If Smooch can control herself, she will sit next to me, navigating. We'll take a picnic basket in the back of the wagon, filled with carrots for the boys and goodies for me. And we'll take the camera, too, because lord knows we'll have to blog about the whole thing.

Thanks for coming with us on our journey.

21 comments:

  1. You brought tears to my eyes and sent chills down my spine talking about George and Alan, their adoption, your mutual adoration society, and your plans. Woo hoo!!! I am looking forward to updates and hope the training goes well so I can also see those first parade pictures, but oooooh if I only lived closer and could be there to see it!!!

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  2. I wouldn't miss this journey for anything, Linda !!.......you will be the perfect ambassador with a little help from your boys !

    H'up !!!!!!!! <3

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  3. Awww, that made me tear up too! How cool would that be to do a parade with them? I know you can do it, and seeing that wagon, sigh... it's gonna be so much fun!!! I can't wait to read more as you go along :)
    *wild applause* you go girl! (and boys)

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  4. Wonderful idea!
    Love the cart too, is that yours?

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  5. Yeah!! You know I'm all about goals & dreams. I think that's fabulous and absolutely attainable. You, the Fabulous Burrito Boys, & Smooch have complete my support!

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  6. That is simply awesome! My hat is off to you, George and Alan. So cool!

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  7. You will succeed. I know you will. And we will be here to see you blog about this dream come true. It will be a great day to see you guys in the parade!

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  8. I'll be right here watching their progress. They're so dang cute!

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  9. This is wonderful! I too aquired my donkey only to be a companion for my lone horse at the time, I'm sooo in love with long ears now.
    I thought of breeding till I thought again of those that needed homes, bravo for you being an ambassador of adoption.

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  10. What a great idea to get the word out about BLM burros. I'm sure you'll be the hit of the parade, and George and Allen will be the poster boys for more adoptions. Good luck with their training.

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  11. A BLUE Daschund?? Well, the Burrito brothers are much better than that.
    I think yiu'll need more than the hat for the parade.
    If you get them ready, I may well make another trip over to God's country just to watch the parade and see the rascals.

    Good luck, Linda, and a great post.

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  12. Fabulous idea! You could also give rides for cash donations to go toward the burro rescue (if peopl are willing to sign a waiver, of course!) How exciting!

    Make sure some one videos the parade so we can all see it.

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  13. Oh, who doesn't love a parade! I can't wait to see pix of your walkabout. I wish I had the room -- a pair of burritos sound wonderful. I would need a jack and a jenny because I would name them after my in-laws: Bev and Bob (who would be tickled, BTW)

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  14. There are two burros at the barn where I've started taking riding lessons again. I gravitate to their stall all the time, and they get their share of carrot treats. How I would love to adopt one or two....

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  15. What a wonderful idea! I am so glad we get to come along on the journey with you, George and Alan!!

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  16. We're talking about getting a place with a tiny bit of land. probably only an acre, but that's a lot out here in southern california. I want you to know that my husband has already agreed to one blm donkey. It will be two obviously, when the time comes. I'm breaking him in slowly. This is because of your blog by about 86%. I must have them.

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  17. I LOVE that buggy! Good luck!

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  18. How exciting! Bit by bit you will get there! Great to see things are coming along, slowly but surely!

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  19. As for the proper cowgirl style, may I suggest the following web site (and be sure and check out their gallery with celebrities - you'll find names there that you know):

    www.rockmount.com

    Rockmount Ranch Wear - when I win the lottery, I'm heading there first and buyin' me a leather jacket. If it's good enough for ALAN JACKSON, it's good enough for me.

    Cowgirl up!

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  20. I loved this post. Oh, to have everyone understand the incredible richness donkeys bring to our lives. Never before have I experienced such gentleness and intelligence in such a large animal. Never have I laughed so hard, nor felt so warm inside. Ah, spring can't come soon enough around here for me. I so look forward to my next "group" of donks.
    I couldn't tell from your post - is that wagon yours? It's beautiful! Of course I wish you the best of luck in fulfilling your plans - it's going to be wonderful!

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  21. Danni, the wagon isn't mine...yet. But it is the coolest one I've found so far and even comes as a kit. So when the time comes, I will be ordering it. I think I need to start off with something much smaller and simpler.

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