Final Travel Plans

We hoped to end our European visit here in Bulle…but business dictates that we return to Biberach, Germany this afternoon so Doug can complete his training there. We’re advised of a driving route that involves crossing Lake Constance on a ferry, which should shorten the trip to ~4 not 8 hours that we spent driving here. After Doug finishes work Friday, we’ll need to drive back to Switzerland and spend the night in a hotel at Zurich airport, where we’ll catch our flight home Saturday morning.

Sarah (1998-2010)

Last night we unexpectedly lost our beloved pet, Sarah. After we picked her up at the kennel after returning from our trip, she was slow to return to her normal behavior. As the week progressed, we thought that she had been traumatized by the boarding experience. She refused to lie down. She wouldn’t eat…even though we tried giving her various foods other than her prescribed diet. She sat in the same spot for hours. Fortunately Doug and I both took her to the vet, as we found out that her condition was far worse than we imagined. In fact it was extremely dire. An x-ray showed that her breathing capacity was limited to one small strip, and the rest of her lungs were filled with either fluid or a tumor. The chief surgeon carefully performed a tap, and test results showed abnormal cells in the fluid…indicating either cancer or FIP. Both conditions are fatal. Based on her labored breathing and system breakdown, we made the extremely difficult decision to euthanize her. She was brought back into the room so we could give her our final pets and look once more at her sweet little face with the pale gold eyes. Sarah was always here for me – my little buddy and companion. I’m overwhelmed by sadness…

An American (me) in Bulle

While shopping in Bulle, I happened to wander into a shop that had some interesting jewelry pieces on display. As I was browsing, the shop keeper asked me in English, not French, where I was from. After he found out that I was from Michigan in the U.S., he relayed that he and his family had moved to Switzerland a couple years ago from Los Angeles, where he still owns a jewelry store. His wife is Swiss, and they decided to move to Bulle and raise their 9-year old son there. Okay…so far so good. But he proceeded to go on a rant, saying that his home in L.A. still hasn’t sold, that there will be a mass rebellion in the States, that the country will go under because of our 12 trillion$ national debt, that the schools are horrible…on and on. Finally, I said that with his views Bulle is exactly where he should live! But I, on the other hand, wouldn’t want to live anywhere in the world other than in the United States. He then backed off and mumbled something about wanting to return to the U.S. some day, but for now he’ll stay there. Hey…if you don’t love it, leave it!!