Sunday, August 21, 2016

The BLT

(Thank you, Tom, for this wonderful story.)

They came from a background of abuse and fear. Now, they have bonded together and are inseparable.
The BLT ~ Bear, Lion, Tiger
(Colour photo of these mature wild animals in full hug)
They are the most unlikely of Friends you'll come across...
in black coat, tawny colour skinned and a coat of stripes.

There is LEO the Lion...BALOO the Black Bear...SHERE KHAN the Tiger.
(Photo shows them playing together in lush greenery of a woodland.
The three-some were rescued as babies from the basement of an Atlanta's drug dealer's home when it was raided by authorities. (Photo of the cubs depicts Baloo drinking water from a pan; Leo and Shere Khan on a door step...such adorable cubs!)

They were starving...traumatized...and had bacterial infections. Since then, they were brought to Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary. (Photo of Shere Khan as a 'teenage-size' Tiger). Here they have lived in the same habitat together for 13 years. (Photo of them in a fenced enclosure; plus a loving pic of Baloo and Shere Khan rubbing against each other's faces.)

The only time the three were separated was when Baloo was sent to surgery. While at the drug dealer's home, Baloo had been mistreated so profoundly that the harness that was put on him, had grown into his skin. The 2 cats were distraught and cried for the bear's return when he was left at the Vet's. Since then, no one has separated the group. (Photo of the 3 Friends on verandah of a wood shelter for them. Tiger and Bear watch as Lion pads down the steps.)

They had clearly bonded since their earliest memories...and never wanted to be apart. (Photo of Baloo and Shere Khan lay sprawled on newly fallen white snow. A summer photo shows these same two together in a tree-bordered green grassy field.)

Now, they live together as if they were brothers of the same species. (Wonderful photo in their safe haven of the brown-nosed black bear centered with the tawny-skinned lion on one side and the striped tiger on his other side...TOGETHER! They play together...they nuzzle one another...and are extremely affectionate. (A photo depicts them in tall leafy grasses and a close-up of their ever-so-contented-faces),

This three-some are the only Bear, Lion, Tiger living together in the entire world! Their faces..So Proud...So Kind with such Expressive Eyes ~ totally in an Environment of Happiness. They're just that exceptional.
Humans could really learn from the bond that these three have...
No one has ever told them that they couldn't love one another...so they did just that! And NOW, ever after all these years: Bonded Forever are Baloo...Leo...Shere Khan in their safe and secure Noah's Ark!
The trio are affectionately referred to as BLT ~ standing for Bear, Lion, Tiger. They just might be the most adorable sandwich ever! ( A final photo of them in their “home habitat”.)

Everybody Needs Someone Who Makes Them Look Forward to Tomorrow!

What Friends Are For

Jane Francisco writes: “One of my closest friends moved to England a while back, so now I only get to see her once or twice a year. No surprise that when we do get together, we hang on each other's every word, often staying up late into the night, wishing conversation didn't have to end. We always resolve to do a better job of keeping in touch. But life inevitably gets in the way...occasionally months go by with little or no contact.

A couple of days ago, I received an e-mail from her with the subject: Because I think you are beautiful! What an awesome interruption in a hectic day! The message contained a link to a video requesting that I watch it. After viewing it that evening, I completely understood my friend's compulsion to reach across the Atlantic with her 'beautiful message'. And in doing so, she helped change my perspective of myself ~ first with the embrace of her words and then with the message in the video. I encourage you to pass a similar sentiment on to the beautiful people in your life.”

Friendship is a Sheltering Tree!
(Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

A recent colour photo caption sent me, depicts a toddler dressed in blue tank top, blue runners, black shorts and socks. He is bending forward with hands on his knees and head lowered. A German Shepherd, partly grown, sitting on his back haunches with left front leg upright on the ground...has his right paw above the toddler's head. The caption at the top reads...I Dub Thee and at bottom of picture puppy 'knights' the toddler with these words...My Best Friend Forever!

Philosophical Words

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.
(Maya Angelou)

When anything strengthens a bond of friendship,
the friends have walked in the shadow of a rainbow.
(Chimmesyan Indian)

Merle Baird-Kerr...written June 20, 2014
Comments are most welcome...e-mail to:inezkate@gmail.com or mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

No comments:

Post a Comment