Saturday September 8, 2007. Arrived here late last night, but not too late for some homemade Strawberry Rhubarb pie and a nice walk around the back streets of Custer with Chumley. Today is an odd day. It is the one year anniversary of Mr. H. Bones Mahoney's demise, who chose to leave the planet while under the watchful eye of my beloved best friend Mikey. I have been thinking alot about Bones. I miss him every day. I do love Chumbucket so much, but
Mr. B was a unique individual. I know all of you who have lost a pet know what I mean. They each have such specific spirits. Hoping Emily doesn't decide to replicate Bones' exit. That might just put Mike over the edge. Ok enough morbid canine thoughts. We are staying at the Rocket Motel. A 1930's cabin type place. Beyond cute. Now Custer, South Dakota is in direct contrast to Keystone, South Dakota. Custer is a real little tourist town th
at probably existed before Mount Rushmore. A small colony of Sears houses, lovely bungalows, and hunting cabins. Keystone takes its' cues from the Vegas - Branson model, replete with a presidential wax museum, indoor water park, reptile garden, mystery spot, and not to be missed Holy Terror Minature golf. In a weird way it reminded me of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I know that's a stretch, but sort of a pre-packaged family fun experience. The Crazy Horse Monument really moved me. Korczak Ziolkowski's dedication and irrational optimism is inspiring. The entire museum is sort of homey and well intentioned. Dogs are allowed and Chum even stalked the cat that belonged to the sculptor's children who still toil at the unfathomable task of completing this statue that is 5x as big as Rushmore. We had to see Mount Rushmore. That is not a pimple on George Washington's head. People were climbing to the top with ropes and stuff. Um why? Chumley was NOT allowed in the park so I had to satisfy my patriotic yearnings from the parking lot. OK onto WALL DRUG per my cousin Hillie, and then a night in Sioux Falls. 
5 comments:
Java is missing her Bonesy, too. :( (((Hugs)))
I think the rushmore addition is purrrrrfection.
The wandering Duo want you to know they also miss their pal, Bones. Yoda Pie and Gator Chips said they had so much fun meeting him. Glad to finally get to travel along with YOU this time. A must see in Florida for your list, LA Judy, is the old Flagler Hotel in St Augustine, now a college...the interior will blow you away and I'm sure Ms Moo would be glad to escort you! Great of you two to take the time to write of your travels and observations along with the pics...but I agree...more Chum and Judy pics are mandatory!! Wishing you all Godspeed as you meander across the country! XXOO Woofy
Having met H. Bones Mahoney, I can state that he was one-of-a-kind. By the time that I met Bonesy, he was already an older dog. But, he still had quite a bit of spirit to him.
Two things that I won't soon forget about Bones...
1) Him greeting me at the kitchen door VERY early on a Sunday morning before I dashed to the airport. At first, he barked, A LOT. I told him who I was, and he chilled, immediately. I grabbed the sausages I grilled the previous afternoon for my trip back to Chi-Town from Judy's fridge and told Bones this one thing, "Take good care of your mommy, keep Emiwy away from that handsome lab down the street, and don't poke fun at Noodles". He got the idea. I believe that Emiwy & Noodles slept through the whole thing, I had hoped to say "good-bye" to them as well.
2) Seeing a still photo of Bones leaping at an earlier age (IIRC, Judy explained that he was 6 at the time) to get a toy well above the ground. If I had to guess, he was a good 4 feet off the ground when the shutter snapped. Owning a spring-loaded BT myself, I was and am still quite impressed.
Having met Emiwy, I can state this...
1) Mikey, please keep Emiwy away from that handsome lab down the street.
2) I've been lucky enough to meet a LOT of BTs. Emiwy was the most adorable (with Cookie being a really, REALLY close second).
How could a year have flown by? Mikey, I remember talking to you that day and you made some hard decisions that only a friend as true and wonderful as you can make.
I must tell the Judi fans that I have a 16 year old boy-strapping 6'1" handsome boy. Name Tyler. Nickname-Bones. Yep, to this day, at school, at home, and on the basketball court, he is known as Bones.
People ask how that name came about, and he is not all that keen to tell the story of his friend Judi, her loving BT named H Bones Mahoney, and being dubbed Bones soon after birth by his dads dog crazy friend living in the canyon!!!
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