Tuesday, January 18, 2011

What goes around . . .







We've all heard it: What goes around comes around.
This is my motivation for helping the Montana Rescue llamas.
Back in 1983 -- when we got our first llama -- we were a young family with 6 kids. They were 10, 8, 7, 5, 3 and one year old. We lived on this farm, which had not yet been "beautified."
We milked goats, ate whole foods, climbed trees, played from sun-up to sundown.
Then I got sick -- was diagnosed with cancer on May 22, 1983 and was told that I had six months to live. It was sad.
The llamas left while I received treatment and I tried to survive that awful summer. I threw up just about everywhere -- from the chemo. Behind trees, out of the window of my car, you name it - I threw up there.
My beautiful, long brown hair became a memory. I threw that broken, dull, crippled hair out of the window of the car, too -- and yelled, "Birds of the air, use it well! Recycle it into nests!"
And the whole while I was being treated for cancer -- I missed the llamas. As soon as the "all clear" was sounded and I was in remission -- I told my husband, "If I get better, the only thing I want is a llama."
And, as they say, the rest is history. I now have 40 plus llamas and 50 plus alpacas.
So when the call went out for temporary havens for the Montana Rescues -- I stepped up to the plate.
The llamas helped me get better. They still do. They make me a better person. They make me get out of bed in the morning and smile at the new day -- no matter what sort of crud has occurred the day before.
They love me unconditionally. They COME when I call them from 33 acres away -- yes, the whole herd runs to the barn when they hear, "Llllaaaaaaaammas! Alpaaaaaaacas! Come on DOWN!" It's YouTube worthy.
So really, I want to thank the Montana llamas for helping me to repay a debt to other llamas.
They will go to their new homes -- but they will have left me -- and I mean ME personally, healthy and happy once again. Thank you.

2 comments:

  1. That's just great, Julie. Llamas and alpacas help me through hard times too - our son has hard to control epilepsy and delays and life is hard, but just being among them is soothing.

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  2. Thanks for that background.I am glad you can help these creatures. I look forward to when SWLR tells me to come check out my possibility of one rescue
    Barb Troje

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