The night I was sleepless worrying about Max, I got on the computer and sent E mails about him to my closest pals. Nadine, saw hers the following morning, just before she was to begin her health club class. “Oh, NO!” she cried out. Her pals in the class wanted to know what was wrong and she told them. They were very sympathetic because they are all animal lovers. She told them the rest of the story about my Op-Ed, and I guess she passed around her phone (she is so techie, she amazes me) so they could read the copy I had sent her. Although, like Nadine, they are not entirely convinced that Zimmerman did not have cause, they did say it was well written. Half a loaf.

Anyway, after Max returned home, I sent her a follow-up E mail the next morning and her phone light went on and everyone in the class stopped their routine, and said ANSWER IT ANSWER IT. So she did and there was great relief that my wandering waif was home safe. I was very touched by their interest and concern.

Meanhwhile, my friend, John, had spread the word to those he meets while walking Buster, in case anyone caught sight of Max. He told Lorraine, who lives on his street, and who is a friend of Don’s and, of course, was a friend of my sis, and goes over every Friday for a happy hour that she is probably still doing even though my sis is gone. Lorraine needs to be watered regularly or her thinking cap does not function. She stops to talk to me when I am out walking or biking because she wants to know what I know so she can gossip about it. When John had moved away and she knew we were in touch, she constantly quizzed me about him. Her boyfriend, another widower, hates him. So, yes, I think Lorraine has to be kept out of the loop.

I’ll have to tell John not to ever tell Lorraine anything about me because it will go straight to Don and I want to keep him from having any information about me at all.

xx, Teal