On June 20, 2019, another
journey was completed...
You may remember that last
year, Elaine and I made a Journey to Malvern Hills in England to visit friends
and stay with them for nearly a week.
While there, we went to British Camp that was established for a thousand
years or more and is full of history. It
has had castles, Roman battles and has been fought over by many cultures but
today it is owned by the public, never to be changed with space to walk your dog’s
where sheep are allowed to graze on the hills.
It also has the fur of Clancy, Abbie, and Oreo, which is always present
in spirit with the Greats of history that are there.
While on top of British Camp,
I was accompanied by two dogs born at the farm, Xena, a Daughter of Clancy and
Molly and Jack, a Grandson of Clancy who is now living in England.
Last year I took out of my jacket pocket a
small bag that contained the hair of Clancy, Abbie, Oreo, Elaine, and
myself. The wind was fierce, heading
directly North toward Clancy's birthplace in Selkirk UK. As I took out the fur, I smelled it one last
time, kissed it and released it watching it travel to distant places with the
wind. It was very bittersweet,
comforting, and I felt my heart tugging again.
I watched their fur sail into the heavens while it was carried long
distances. After I was finished, I
turned into the northbound wind and turn my face toward the heavens and wept
like a child.
On the way home last year as
I sat on the plane traveling west at 40,000 feet heading to New York, I
pondered my life and the life of Clancy and Abbie. I also took another kind of journey when we
started Clancy's Dream. I never sensed
it would become what it, much less ever thought it would be possible. The view from the window was speculation but
gave me a sense of smallness in a vast world, making me feel so incompetent in
a world of wonderment and how small we really are. Before we left England, our host said,
"I will visit them," and I knew Catherine and Richard did and it was
just a few weeks ago.
Since we returned from Great
Britain last year, Molly and Nellie, daughter of Clancy and Dutchess had
crossed the Rainbow Bridge leaving big holes in the hearts of the people who
loved them.
On June 20, 2019, another
journey was completed when the fur of Molly and Nellie was also released in the
exact spot where I did, a little over a year ago. They are all together again. A month or so ago Catherine made the trip to
the USA to attend her daughter's college graduation, and of course, she stopped
by the farm. Before she left, I went to
a secret spot and gathered the fur of Molly and Nelly that I had gathered after
their death.
I took some for the trip to England,
and the rest will be buried with Elaine and me when we pass, it seems only
fitting. What is so important is where
this location is, is the start of Clancy's Dream and the dogs that have
passed. British Camp is one of the
tallest hills in England and faces Scotland, the birthplace of Clancy's Great
grandparents, and it was important to me for him, if only in spirit to go
home.
Clancy, Abbie, and Nellie are now
together near the birthplace of ancestors. British Camp is an Iron Age
hill fort located at the top of Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills. The
hill fort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The fort is thought to have been first
constructed in the 2nd century BC. A Norman castle was built on the site, and
Catherine and Richard live within walking distance and visit my dogs
often along with the siblings of Clancy. Thank you... Ken
