I wanted to see a couple of high school friends when I was in Savannah this past weekend. One was someone I've stayed in touch with through some? much? of the FIFTY years since we graduated.

He sent a message that there was someone he couldn't wait for me to meet. I was very intrigued and honestly had no idea who it might be. Even though he did give me a hint— one that went right over my head.

He arrived with a bag that was full of something I somewhat recognized. I have a couple of his husband's wonderul critter creations and knew this was one of them.

Right out of the bag I fell in love with it!

My friend's husband is an artist who somehow sees the perfect creature in the mix of uphostery fabrics he has. He hand-stitches creatures, some of which you might recognize as a dog or a bird, and some that are whimsical creations all his own.

This one is a dog. A slightly off-kilter dog which perfectly fits my current off-kilter body as well as my off-kilter life as I navigate metastatic cancer that has spread to my bones.

I love the blues and complementary greens and golds and off whites and the perfect variety of upholstery patterns and fabrics.

And I love the wonkiness as the dog can't quite stand upright. Just as I'm bent over now and can't stand up straight. And I kind of list to one side.

I asked my friend what the dog's name is, and he told me to name it. He suggested I do what I do for my Word of the Year when I ask for my word and let it come to me.

I thought that was a great idea so I opened my mind and heart to the name for it to come as it chose.

And I took the creature with me to bed that night.

It has really good energy!

I got back home with my new currently nameless new friend and no name immediately came the first night I was back.

The word "twinkle" popped into my head the next day. But I knew that word wasn't the name.

I didn't realize then that it was a hint.

But it was.

It think it was the next day when the name came to me.

"Sparky."

At first I wondered why "Sparky"?

But then it hit me.

My friends who see my Facbook posts know I share comics from the strip "Mutts" by Patrick McDonnell. A storyline that has run for years has to do with a dog that was chained up in a yard.

That dog didn't have a name or anyone who cared about it. Except a little girl in the neighborhood who'd visit it regularly. He was known "Yard Dog" in the comic.

To condense a long story, the owner of yard dog moved and left the dog. Chained with no food or water. The neighbor girl was out of town, and Yard Dog almost died.

But not quite.

She came back and found him at got adults to take him to the vet. And she convinced her mom to let her adopt him.

And she chose the name "Sparky" for him.

My Sparky has never been unloved though. He was loved through his creation process. I know that because I can feel the love infused in him.

He was loved enough to be giifted to me.

And I loved him immediately!

"Sparky" was the name the cartoonist chose for Yard Dog because that was Charles Schulz's personal nickname. As the creator of "Peanuts" (my favorite cartoon as a kid) Schultz was an inspriation and mentor to Patrick McConnell.

So for me Sparky has meaning from two of my very favorite cartoons.

And my Sparky has a lot of meaning for me because he's a gift from one of my favorite friends from my childhood and teenage years and from his artist husband who lovingly hand-stitches his creatures.

So now I formally introduce my new friend Sparky!

Here are some photos from various angles so you can see the fabrics that Sparky's creator, Shawn Turner, chose. And here's an article about Shawn and his process: https://www.connectsavannah.com/arts-and-entertainment/shawn-turners-fantastical-fabric-creations-17304284/

Sparky

A Shawn Turner creation