We Gather Together...as we socially distance

2020 has been the year of irony. 

The very things that pull us together, push us apart, and vice versa. The entire world

has come together in the sharing of a single virus. A virus that, while it reminds us of our joint human frailty and similarity, has forced us behind smile-covering masks and into our socially-distant corners. And, for some, it has cast loved ones into a place from which they will never again return in this earthly life. 

The United States presidential election has brought the citizens of the country together, as never before, to exercise our freedom to vote. We came together in record numbers to cast our votes, either by mail or in person. And yet. And yet, that very election has pushed so many of us into opposite corners, across a political divide that has, for many, become intensely personal. 

And now, we come to the season for giving thanks. 

November 2019 was the first time in many years that both of my daughters, along with my sons-in-law and three grandchildren, could gather together with my husband and me for a Thanksgiving dinner. My older daughter’s husband has a military career, which has caused their family to often be too far away to join us for the Thanksgiving holiday. I was confident that we’d have a repeat of that festive gathering in 2020, while they were still stationed only an hour away from us. But then...the curse of Covid 19 struck, snatching away our plans, just as we learned that Thanksgiving 2021 will find them stationed several hundred miles away. 

And while I’m deep into my pity party, I might add how hard it is to refrain from embracing all of them for the past nine months, especially our 13-year-old and 16-year-old granddaughters, who will be moving so far away next year, and our 22-month-old grandson who, although he lives just an hour away, may as well be across the country as far as hugging distance is concerned. 

This year, we had a masked and socially distant exchange of Thanksgiving side dishes and desserts which we will enjoy

separately in our own three homes along with the turkey each will prepare for their families. We are all trying our best to protect one another from this dreadful illness. An illness that has had tragic consequences in so many families. 

And so, the first thing for which I give thanks this year, is that none of us has contracted it. None of us has fallen ill. We will remain socially distant because it’s one way we show love for one another. 

The second thing for which I give thanks, is the gift of technology. The Internet can be a dangerous and wasteful place to spend our time, but it can also be a lifesaver when we need to draw close to one another for social, creative, or business gatherings. With video chats, I can interact with my family and friends in ways unheard of a few years ago.

Because of the World Wide Web, I can connect with readers and other writers. And our beloved writers’ group has continued to meet twice a month via Zoom, proving it is possible to teach old dogs, new tricks, after all. (Speaking of dogs, this technological wonderment is responsible for bringing me a whole new trans-Atlantic world of friendship and inspiration through the “Nibblers” Facebook group of dog-lovers I wrote about a couple months back.)

So, I give grateful thanks for the love and health of my family, and for the fellowship of kindred spirits around the world. And, if the worse happens and Covid 19 strikes close to home, I give thanks that we have the technology to draw near to one another and provide the warmth and support we all need in a world that could, otherwise, be a cold and distant place. 

Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back, now. (And keep smiling behind that mask as we count our blessings, this Thanksgiving.) 

Kate

Doggone Inspiration...and surprising source of comfort

"Patterdale Wanderers" illustration by Mo Palios

As an American writer amid these strange days of the Covid 19 virus pandemic, social unrest, vitriol-spewing politics, dangerous hurricanes and wildfires, and even a freakish damaging earthquake in my state of North Carolina, I find myself struggling to focus on my writing, wondering what plague will next strike us. All too often, my mind veers away from my work and onto the next crazy or horrifying thing in the news.

"Sophie" photo by K. L. Wood

But I have discovered a new and unexpected source of both creative inspiration and warm-hearted comfort. I (actually, my dog, Sophie) was invited to join a private Facebook group called the Nibblers—Patterdale Wanderers FC. In case you don’t know, FC stands for Football Club. (That’s football, as in soccer.) No, Sophie is not a soccer player or a Patterdale terrier, but she’s a friend of a Patt named Wanda, here in Edenton, and Wanda extended the invitation to join this positively (or “pawsitively” in Nibbler-speak, but more on that, later) wonderful group. Four year-old Sophie, in turn, invited her old litle sister, thirteen-year-old Shih Tzu, Minna, to join the Nibblers. This creative pack of canines is centered in the United Kingdom, but Nibblers stretching from Kansas to Canada to the Netherlands have also been welcomed into the fold.

"Magic Wanda" photo by K. L. Wood

What gets my writer’s juices flowing is that the members all communicate in their “dog voices,” viewing and speaking from the dog’s POV (Point Of View, or perhaps POD- Point Of Dog is more accurate.) There is a whole host of dog dialect-enhanced words. For example: going on a vacation is usually referred to in the UK as going on holiday, but in Nibbler-speak, it’s going on “holibobs.” Archie, the Nibbler who started it all, has become the official group attorney, usually called a solicitor in the UK, except in Nibbler land he is the “solly sitter.” One term that has gotten a lot of use recently is the “carrot walrus.” In other words, the corona virus, which has invaded the Nibblers’ lives on both sides of the Pond. And we human beings are referred to as “beans.” As in, I’m Sophie’s Mom bean, and there are Brother and Sister beans and Grandma beans and Uncle beans, etc. There are many more examples, but you get the picture!

This group shares photographs and stories of their everyday adventures of taking “walkies” and sneaking treats, such as that ever-popular UK Nibbler favorite, custard creams. (A vanilla cookie sandwich with a cream center.) I’ve learned a lot of new terminology, both gastronomically and colloquially-speaking, which sets my writer’s brain a’ ticking. There is also the creative challenge of writing in your own dog’s voice. My Sophie, for example, consistently speaks with her own brand of eccentric phrasing. She often adds an “s” where none is needed. (“Where nones is neededs.”)

 

"Minna" photo by K. L. Wood, all other Nibbler photos on this Blog, provided by their Beans

The members also share exuberant joys and heart-wrenching sorrows. In addition to celebrating birthdays and “Gotcha” Days (the days on which rescued Nibblers with unknown birth dates joined their forever homes,) there have been baby beans born and new Nibbler siblings adopted. But there have also been sick or injured Nibblers, as well as their beans, and we have offered get-well wishes and practical advice when requested. And, as might be expected, there have been both beans and Nibblers who have passed away into what they call, Everafter Land. When that has happened, one can feel the warmth and love of hundreds of kindred spirits wrapping the bereaved in comfort.

 

"Sophie's First Birthday" photo by K. L. Wood

The Nibblers participate in complex virtual events such as sports competitions, birthday celebrations, beach parties, travel adventures, and even a recent Nibbler wedding for Mr. Scruffs and Miss Lilly. (Several romances have blossomed online in this cyberworld!) In future posts, I will share some of these entertaining stories (especially the wonderful tales spun by Kiki’s Grandpaw bean,) as well as more photographs and drawings of these endearing canine characters. (Today’s post has but a few of their portraits. Just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of Nibblers who have offered their images for the blog!)

It all began with one of the beans, a talented writer and artist named Mo Palios, when she began a page in the name of her adorable rescued terrier, Archie. As she told and illustrated Archie’s fantastic tales, he gained a following that blossomed into a life of its own and eventually became the basis for the broader Facebook page: Nibblers-Patterdale Wanderers FC.

In Mo’s words: “I think the Patterdale Wanderers Football Team was the first big bonding event and that’s when i invented the Nibbler nickname. They were appallingly bad players but devoted themselves to coming up with tricks and strategies to beat their opponents! Like wearing dachshund face masks to confuse the other team. And the Nibblettes dressing as bunny rabbits to distract the whippet team.”

I’ll end this segment of the fantastical world of the Nibblers with a quote from their Facebook page:

~Join the Nibblers for fun, fantasy football and lots of amazing adventures in Pattland.

Players and supporters of Patterdale Wanderers FC - nicknamed the Nibblers are all welcome!

Old, young, slow, fast - every Nibbler can play in our matches and go on our adventures as they only happen in our secret Pattland. Nibblers don’t always have to be Patts ... just friends of Patts. We have Nibblers all over the UK and in the States as well. We have a magic patterbus that transports us anywhere in minutes so we can all meet up wherever we want, whenever we want. (Without our mum and dad beans). We share jokes and tricks and games and our beans share stories about us being funny or cute or naughty ... mostly naughty. We’re great mates and our team motto is All For One - One for All. We’re pretty rubbish at football but our team, Patterdale Wanderers, has lots of tricks (sorry - tactics) up our sleeves. We’re proud and thrilled to say we somehow managed to win the Canine Football Association Cup against the Favourites, Dachshund Bangers. 🎶🎶🎶We are the champions my friends 🎶🎶🎶 ~

"Nibbler Flag" illustration by Mo Palios

Be sure, also, to check out Archie’s original Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/archie.paliostyte.3 where you can find some wonderful “Nibbler” oriented gifts; a portion of the sales are donated to the Dogs Trust, the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom.  

Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back, now! — And, as we navigate these dangerous days, let’s all try to live by the Nibblers’ motto: 

“All For One - One For All!”

Kate