Yesterday my long-time friend, Carolyn called me to let me know how much she enjoyed reading my book, High Cotton.  She said it brought back memories of when she was a little girl.  She said she played the same games that Gayle and I played, like building 'frog houses' in the damp sand.  She asked if we ever played 'dolls' with the ears of corn growing in the corn field.  Of course we did, but I had forgotten all about that when I tried to remember  all the games Gayle and I played while writing my book. We picked many regal beauties from the corn stalks, some with beautiful, blond, silky hair and many with red curls.   Surprisingly, Daddy and Mamma never scolded us for gathering our little 'dolls' while they were still green on the stalk of corn.  Gayle and I spent many hours playing with those little 'dolls'.

Carolyn  started telling me that she and her husband had to have their beloved little dog put to sleep last week.  She began to cry as she tried to tell me this.  I had seen her little dog recently and had no idea anything was wrong.  It was a little 'mutt' that they had rescued from the animal shelter a few years ago.  It had little matted curls like a poodle and he whined to sit in Carolyn's lap before she gladly held him as we visited.
  Having lost a beloved cat, 'Sweetie Pie' a few years ago, I can sympathize with Carolyn and her husband.  We get attached to our pets and it is hard when they pass away.  They are like family to us.  I still think about Sweetie Pie and she has been gone almost five years.  We had her with us for eleven years.  She was family.
My husband made a little 'sympathy card'  to mail to Carolyn, like my vet. Dr. Forrest sent to me when Sweetie Pie passed away.  Everyone in his office signed it.  It had pictures of little cats and dogs on it and it meant a great deal  to me to receive it at that time.   I thought it was so thoughtful.  I hope Carolyn's card will help to cheer her.