And Then There Were Four...

We left later than we planned. That was okay. It was cooler, less traffic, we could find 24 hour Walgreens...the pros were many.
The trip was the usual "trip" for the first while. We stopped at a Walgreens, got MORE treats (we only packed a month's worth for this 24 hour trek!)
Sparing you all the gory details (which I may talk about in a later post because the devil is in the details and this trip had many little "devils" in it!), we arrived at the hotel at 4:30am. We were whipped. I pulled the truck into the turn entry of the place and left it there! LOL! (I don't do turns and trailers at the same time very well.) Frieda and I went to check in. All I wanted was to be horizontal. After a lot of inappropriate punch-drunk laughter, we got our room cards. We woke Wayne up long enough for him to park the truck and up we went. Geordie had even had enough by this point and we collapsed.
Frieda got up first. I feigned sleep while Wayne started talking to me. I had hoped he would give up and go away...find Frieda...anything! I was so tired. But, he persisted. When the whistling through his teeth started, I do believe my head made one full spin on my shoulders. I got up and went straight to the shower! Once I showered, I felt a little more human.
We (again sparing you the hysterical gory details), we found a Shoney's and stopped for breakfast. We ate and ate and ate.
Finally, we were ready to go to Ronnie and Anita's to SEE the darling donkeys. It was almost unreal since we'd been planning this for so long! I could see Anita waving from way down in their drive way. Ronnie was getting himself ready to start making us laugh! After hugs and all the "we're so glad to see you's," we made our way to the donkeys. They were just as adorable as I had thought. We watched, patted heads, and did all the things new parents do. THEN. Yes, THEN. Wayne and Ronnie disappeared. At first, I didn't think so much of it. THEN. Wayne called me. Ronnie seemed to have become Wayne's support system. I knew it. They were conspiring. Ronnie had been working on Wayne! He had told him he had OTHER donkeys available! Those two men were tag-teaming me before I knew it and my husband had fallen in love with another woman. A sorrel jenny and her baby girl!
I rationized that there was no room in the trailer. Ronnie, being the support system, assured me there was. I said 4 donkeys would be too much. Ronnie assured me that feeding 4 donkeys would cost less than feeding 4 cats. I smirked. "I'm not trading MY DONKEY'S for THOSE donkeys," I protested. Ronnie assured me that there wasn't a trade in the works. THEN. Then came the final take-down blow of the ever conspirating male personality. Wayne asks the pandering question, "Well, what do you think?" I replied, what do you think I think? I think you're crazy. He already had that glazed-over look in his eyes. Anita and Frieda tried their best to help me, but it was like quicksand. And then I realized it was over. We were bringing home, not two, but FOUR donkeys. We had petted the sorrel jenny a little bit. Her baby was splendid. I just had no idea that she was "that" kind of donkey. She just horned her way right into my husband's heart. I wanted to believe she hit him from behind and he never saw it coming, but I knew in my heart, he wanted her. Ronnie was right there to tell me so! LOL! (Notice I left out all the parts about me being a sucker for animals, what the heck, I've got a whole brood to feed anyway, they are just gorgeous and the ever practical, "I guess four can eat down more pasture than two.) It was finished. We had 4 donkeys.
We went through all the steps of getting them to the trailer. They seemed fine once they were in. In no time, we were off...on our way back home. Still a bit stunned and shaken at my husband's obvious plot to bring home more donkeys, I was truly happy. I knew it would be both alright and fun.
On the way, we talked about names, bouncing different one's off of each personality. "PETAL" was named first. She's the brown and white baby. We set about naming her mother next. We named of flower names that start with "P." Pansy, Petunia, nah. Those didn't fit. Then, out of the blue, I said "POPPY." We all yelled, "THAT'S IT!" We had two more to find names for.
It took a while. We were having dinner in Raleigh. After dinner, we started naming names again. We arrived at "CINNAMON" for the sorrel mom. She looks just like cinnamon toast. (I hear a nickname coming.) Naming names wasn't getting us very far with naming Cinnamon's baby. Nothing "sounded" right. That is, until Wayne said, "MUFFIN!" Again Frieda and I shrieked THAT'S IT!!!" We were totally thrilled. They were all named.
We left Raleigh and headed home. (Once again, I will leave out the events that were hysterically funny. This one occured in Farmville and included a NC Highway Patrolman.) Suffice it to say, from now on, I'm going to start hitching the donkeys and taking them with me everywhere I go. Troopers must love donkeys. This one even called his sargeant to ask "do I pull them over? They have DONKEYS!" (Huh??) It could have been a lot worse. But, this fellow was indeed "a trooper." He saw that the trailer lights did work...and there must have been a glitch or short or something. We aimed for home.
We arrived home in the wee hours. Morning came early and I've spent the whole day trying to make ALL the girls comfortable.
Tonight, as I type this, they were working out the sleeping arrangements with the goats. They're an indecisive bunch. Can't make up their minds and just lay down. I'll check on everyone in an hour or so and call it a day. One very long, wonderful, thrilling day. We have 4 donkeys now. Wayne and I are BOTH crazy over that sorrel jenny and her baby.
As I have tried to indicate, you can't beat a good donkey road trip.
We're all safe, sound, blessed and happy. It doesn't get much better than that. Frieda took what seemed to be a lot of pictures. I'll post them as soon as I get the photo card from Frieda.
Folks, when you see the pictures, you'll see why Wayne HAD to have the sweet sorrel jenny and her 3 week old baby.
Never in million years did I ever think that I'd have so much fun on such a long trip and with TWO extra jenny's. That makes me smile.
More on the donkeys and how they're doing in their new home tomorrow, I hope. If not, I'll see you again over the weekend!
And then, there were four....

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