Adventure can take many different shapes and forms. Sometimes, we are even thrust into the midst of it when we least expect it. Sometimes it can even appear cloaked in fear, urgency and uncertainty. That is the kind of adventure you only recognize as such after the fact.
I am currently on a flight from Albuquerque, NM back to Hartford, CT. I flew in the opposite direction just five days ago quite unsure of what I would find on the other end of that flight.
Last Tuesday, just 6 days ago, I received an emergency notification on my phone notifying me that my best friend, my chosen sister, was in a car crash and that emergency services had been called. I was unable to reach her for hours. After phone calls back and forth with her brother, and him calling local hospitals, we found her in the trauma unit but was provided no other information initially.
Her brothers, Braden and Trevor, immediately packed their bags, and started driving from NH. A short time later, we received calls from her directly. Our joy at hearing her voice was tempered by the confusion, fear, and dread we heard in her voice. She was disoriented, remembered nothing, and knew only that her rescue pup, Goose, was now on the loose. I booked the next logical flight out of Hartford, at 6am Thursday morning.
With the help of her friends in Albuquerque (thank you, Sham), I was able to get to her apartment, where she was now starting her recovery, by noon on Thursday. When I walked in her apartment and found her in her bed, she broke down in a way I had never seen in our 22 years of friendship. She struggled to control her emotions, to find the words she was searching for, or string her thoughts together with any ease. This was a concussion like I had never seen before. Her brothers arrived an hour later. More tears like I’d never seen, then the planning kicked into action.
We spent the evening on Thursday, on foot in the neighborhoods surrounding the crash site, we put out flyers, and circulated her story along with pictures of Goose across all Albuquerque social media channels.
The response from the community was nothing short of amazing. The shares, likes, comments, advice, and offers to go out looking for Goose were more than our fragile hearts could handle. With gratitude, and many more tears, we accepted any, and all support that was offered. We visited shelters, had animal control on speed dial, and pounded the pavement (quite literally).
Our rag tag crew fell into a rhythm, leaning into our individual strengths, focusing not only on bringing Goose home, but also on making sure Leanne didn’t hinder her healing in the process, that we didn’t lose sight of her as we kept looking for him. If we could bring Goose home, he would need his momma in one piece…or as close to it as possible.
Saturday morning began with us splitting up. The boys remained on foot in the neighborhood where he had last been spotted by a member of the community, and Leanna and I heading towards one of the few water sources in the dry, hot, desert city. But just 1 hour later, Leanne and I received a call from her brother Trevor letting us know they were hot on his tail. We quickly rejoined the search back on the other side of town, but an hour later we were hot, dehydrated, and feeling the effects of having skipped breakfast. We decided to regroup. We picked a park in the center of our search area, refueled, and took off on foot yet again in four different directions. After another hour and a half of canvassing our search grid, we decided the heat of the day was forcing us to take a break. We met up back at the apartment, feeling exhausted and a bit defeated…he was so close, but still so far away…and if we are being honest, in much better shape than we are!
The next series of events happened so fast, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. No sooner had we all sat down, did Trevor get contacted by a good Samaritan who had been out searching in her car all morning, unbeknownst to us. She had him cornered!!! We all jumped up and headed out of the house…Braden and Leanne in the truck, Trevor and I on foot. Trevor continued to communicate as we high tailed it back to his last known location. Then the most incredible text arrived. She had him, in her car…and with it, a picture of his beautiful face. It was Goose, and he was safe!
Within minutes, our Albuquerque Angel Rebecca was pulling up to Leanne with her puppy in tow. He was scared, skittish, tired, and so happy to see her. He is a young rescue and has some trust issues to begin with, so the three of us gave him and Leanne space. I must have squeezed this beautiful, puppy rescuing stranger more times than I should have, but she was incredible…and also gives great hugs. She would not take anything for her efforts, not even gas money, all she wanted was a picture with Leanne and Goose. It is one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever taken because it captures selflessness, community, love and gratitude.
I sit on this plane grateful that my friend is healing, not only physically, but emotionally, because her world is complete again. I am optimistic that this experience will be one that changes the way the four of us think of community and what is possible when people put others before themselves. And I am hopeful, that sometime soon she may come home to New England, bring Goose with her, and bring the lessons of community we learned from the people of Albuquerque with her.
Leanne is the writer and one day she will tell this story in a way that captures the true essence of all that unfolded. I can merely recount the facts and try to find a way to explain my emotions through it all. She…she will paint a picture, a masterpiece to be read and shared far and wide. Until then, drive safely, keep your friends and pups as close as you can, and remember putting others before yourself and helping your neighbor in need will always come back to you tenfold. Thank you, Albuquerque for helping four strangers from New England…oh, and your food is incredible!