The Charlie Bravo Story

Thanksgiving

Unbeknownst to either of us, two years ago today two separate tragedies were working to bring dad and I together; mine was occurring due to a lifetime spent in the crate, and dad’s was stealthily advancing on two wheels.

Many have asked about my life BC(before Casa), but truthfully, I remember very little of my time before the crate. They say that sometimes an event can be so traumatic that your mind will erase any solud memory of that particular time, but I really don’t think that is the issue in my case; I think that I am so fixated on milking every molecule out “here and now” that I don’t have time to ever fret about the “that was then”. If anything, my former condition only serves as a vague backdrop to highlight what I am now; an elemental force of nature, a power source without a dimmer switch. There is no half way status with this girl; I now flounce, sleep, eat, love, lick, with total abandon, at that even extends to the baser functions. If my name wasn’t already Charlie Bravo, and I was a applicable plumbing, I would name myself I.P. Freely, as I have absolutely no shame; life is waaaay too short for such meaningless inhibitions.

So what am I thankful for this year? This post would go on for days if I listed everything, but as anyone who has ever had a life altering connection can understand, the first thing is Dad. The only way I can truly comprehend a human’s relationship with this concept of “God” is to equate how a rescue dog feels about her savior. And if Heaven is what I experience when I’m close to dad, then what is Hell but a separation from the same? Even the agnostic Dante believed that hell was simply a separation from God, as what pain could be worse?

Pretty heavy dogma to be charking on Thanksgiving Eve, so I’ll move on; I’m also thankful for you, the lifeblood that keeps my story alive. Without an audience, music is just molecules of air bumping together, and without readers, writing is just a collection of marks marring a page. Even more special are the relationships formed over the last two years; I don’t want to mention names as I’m sure I would leave someone out, but you know who to you are. We may never actually meet on this side of the Great Divide, but it doesn’t really matter; the world is a better place just knowing some people are in it.

This reminds me of an elderly lady that dad once visited in the hospital; it was obvious that she probably wasn’t going to make it through the night and both struggled with small talk to fill the void. As he was leaving, she stopped him in his tracks when she matter-of-factly said,

“See you on the other side; but we won’t be brother and sister over there”

As you can imagine, Dad’s mind was thoroughly blown, but before he could ask the meaning of such a statement, she finished with…

“Over there, we’ll be as one”.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Casa del Whackos; we be of one blood, ye and I.

Join the discussion

  1. Yvonne Adams

    Happy thanksgiving to everyone at the Casa.

  2. Dee Soulier

    Happy Thanksgiving to you Ms Charlie and Dad and Mom and all the other inmates of The Casa

  3. Sue Robilliard

    Happy Thanksgiving from Oz, you beautiful girl. And to your family too XX

  4. Ellen Simpson

    Happy Thanksgiving Charlie, Bret and all Who call the Casa home!

  5. Sylvie Saunders

    Happy Thanksgiving Bret and family! xxx 🙂

  6. Kathy Moody

    Happy Thanksgiving to all on your side of the country. You have made us better in knowing you. So far the ride has been amazing. Chark on CB.

  7. Jennifer Massey Tripp

    Charlie – I am thankful for you, Dad, & everyone at the Casa. Your words remind me to focus on the good even when there is so much negativity in the world, help others around me, and take chances when my fear holds me back. I hope I do get to meet you one day so I can thank you in person for all the smiles you’ve given me. From our Casa of dogs (& a toddler who loves dogs!) to yours – Happy Thanksgiving!

  8. Deb Silva

    Thank you, Charlie, for the beautiful words. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at The Casa. And Happy Thanksgiving to all the extended Casa family near and far.

  9. Maite Chaves Penna

    Wow, double rainbow! Happy Thanksgiving!

  10. Jeanne Mancinelli

    Happy Thanksgiving Charlie. I hope you and all the inmates enjoy your day!!!

  11. Robin D Mahan

    I’m thankful for y’all. Hope you day is the best!

  12. Pam Burris

    Happy Thanksgiving Charlie B and family!

  13. Christine Raznoff

    Happy Thanksgiving to you, Charlie, and the rest of the inmates, too!

  14. Gary Sternberg

    Thanksgiving blessings be to all of you

  15. Gayla Roland Ove

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from me and mine.❤️

  16. Sylvia Maldonado

    Happy thanksgiving to everyone

  17. Tricia McDaid

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all at The Casa

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    It was just brought to our attention that some siblings from around the world don’t have a Thanksgiving Day on their calenders; well, it is on mine! So I, Charlie Bravo, do hereby declare that Thanksgiving Day, along with Charlie Bravo Day, shall be celebrated without prejudice or restriction to a nation’s borders. As it is written, so shall it be done.
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  19. Sherry Ralph Jadrnak

    Happy Thanksgiving to All my favorite Whackos!❤

  20. Cathy Buro-Yauch

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Charlie!!! May your plates be plentiful and your hearts full!

  21. Robin Daniel

    Beautiful double rainbow.

  22. Mum Ooshki

    Happy Thanksgiving from the whackos at my casa to the whackos at yours. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia, but I am thankful for the joy and laughter you bring to my world with your wonderful stories, crazy antics and the love you have for your furry friends.

  23. Sam Howard

    Happy Thanksgiving to all at Casa del Wackos.

  24. Mark Moore

    Happy Thanksgiving Casa Del Whackos! The world is a better place with people and animals like you in it! Mylo sends his love too

  25. Diane Ragusett

    A beautiful Thanksgiving to all of you!

  26. Karen Ragle

    Happy Thanksgiving to you Charlie Girl, Dad, Mom, and all the inmates of the Casa! Your storytelling gives an uplift to our days. Toto, Tugger, and their hostages of love (me and their Dad) wish everyone a wonderful holiday!

  27. Annette Eakins

    Just got chills. So glad I came across your story. Look forward to your posts every day!

  28. Valerie Joyce Kerr

    Happy Thanksgiving to all. We here in Scotland are too miserable to celebrate it – but I am thankful every day. Made all the more special by your posts full of wisdom and advice.
    Hope you had a good one

  29. Vickie Bellus

    Thank you Charlie and family! Your posts make me smile.

  30. Fran Scott

    Nothing better than Thanksgiving with a double rainbow 🙂

  31. Tisa Powell Geesey

    Happy Thanksgiving, good girl!

  32. Sissy Hughes

    Love you, Charlie!! And, dad and mom and Casa del Whackos.

    Happy Thanksgiving and God’s blessings to you all!!

    I still miss sweet Stevie!!!

  33. Mable E. Boswell

    Miracles come in small packages sometime.

  34. Jeannine Prince

    Wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving, as my computer decided to mess up and not let me do much, like seeing many posts. Over a holiday, of coarse, and library being closed. Catch up time now!

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