THE ENZO HAS LANDED 11 DECEMBER (USA) 12 DECEMBER (OZ)

Sue writes: I'm holding my breath for the next 60 minutes. I get the feeling you are all holding your breaths too . . . a collective World Wide Breath Holding moment. Enzo is making the final run home, crossing Australia now -- I keep picturing him in his nice roomy crate with his beautiful pink blanket which looks like it's also got handquilted edges . . . how appropriate. I know he will be feeling a thousand hands reaching around and over him to soothe and comfort him. Stay with us, Big Boy! You are COMING HOME! Sue in Oz - gulping a thousand tears and completely choked up. YVONNE MURGATROYD: My tears are starting now too . . . It's so wonderful that this guy is FINALLY home! (Well nearly) Sue writes soon after: It's ten past five and the plane was ten minutes late leaving Vienna 22 hours ago. IT WAS DUE TO LAND AT 5:00 PM MELBOURNE TIME. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ------ by my reckoning THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!!!!!! Sue - breathing in, breathing out JACKIE McGUINNESS: Just as well (sniff) that everyone in the office has colds/flu (sniff) and I can pretend I'm catching it (sniff); can't have my street cred ruined now. They'll think I'm getting soft in my dotage (bah-humbug). PAUL DIGGINS: Into the Night (Enzo's Journey Home) "I will be thinking long" (she said) "& hard into the night," And so began a journey, so good and meet and right. To reunite a family thrown, in circumstance, asunder, Returning for the health of one, returning deep Down Under. Who was this person musing there to reconnect these people? And how could she conceive of this, not knowing house or steeple? She didn't know an inch of them, their hearts, or face, or hair And then she looked around her feet, three reasons happened there. This I can do, I know its true, I feel it in my heart I have the power in my hands, I have that special art. And so composed a missive faire and sent it out on wire And people read it far and wide; it burst in Aire like fire. A simple story told and true of snowflakes and of love, Of mothers, daughters, dogs and friends and things that fit like gloves. Of steadfast, stalwart friendship through a life now at eleven Not much you think, but really so, in our years fifty-seven. The message sent, our hearts were rent, our pocketbooks we dimpled Connecting all the dots, it seems, is art that's pure and simple. A paint-by-numbers panoply of black and tan and brown Those creatures that connect us all - those guards, these friends, our clowns. In happiness then, eyes awash, I'm glad to tell you this, Her thoughts sent searching in the night were never sent amiss. On wings of Aire, she got him there with kind determination. She made us a continuum, a worldwide Airedale nation. Welcome Home Enzo! Thank You Sue Congratulations to Atia & Maia Special thanks to Simona, Frantisek, Helmut and, for keeping us all connected, Andréa Sue replies: Paul - what can I possibly say. You tear my heart to pieces! I didn't do this. YOU ALL did this. And I love you all. Sue - in floods of tears but amongst the best friends in the world so who cares??? LIBBY KARIER: Paul, This is terrific. And oh so true. Thank you for putting this into words. Thank you Sue, for having the heart and will to go from believing this could happen to making it happen. Thanks to everyone involved -- to Helmut and all in Europe, to Andréa and the web pages that kept us connected, to everyone who gave money, to all who wished Enzo Godspeed on his journey. I am so proud to be a part of this community. Libby (who got up waaay to early to hear the news) and Molly (happy dancing and eating a celebratory brekkie in Chicago) ELLANA LIVERMORE: Oh, what happy news. Paul's poem is so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. I'm getting as weepy as Sue over Enzo's journey. So glad he has landed (we're really into that phrase here in Houston). Updates eagerly awaited. MARE MOORE: "Paul - what can I possibly say. You tear my heart to pieces!" INDEED! I can but barely see my computer screen but for the tears a-streamin' down my face whilst my mouth is turned up in big sloppy grin at the same time! Bless caring AIREfolk everywhere! "THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!!" Naw, just one truly lucky 'Dale who was borne upon giant AIREwings of international AIRElove and flown across the world to be where he truly belongs, with his people in the magical land of OZ My heart is fair to bursting with the enormity of what you've managed to pull off here, Sue! You're one amazing force of nature girl! We humbly salute you. SUE: I know you're all dying for updates and I'm sorry for the suspense. I just had so much to do this evening after we knew of Enzo's safe arrival, and it's once again almost midnight. Just after 7:00 p.m., I had a phone call from Angelo, the Quarantine person who was collecting Enzo from the Aireport. I had not expected a call 'till much later so this was a lovely surprise. The conversation went like this . . . Hi, it's Angelo from Quarantine, I've got Enzo with me. OH! great! says I. How is he??????? Fine, he's fine. Does he bite? BITE????? What do y'mean, BITE??? Um well there's a note on his crate says 'bite'. He doesn't look like he bites. Sue scratches head. Light bulb goes on. Uh . . . you mean a bit of paper on the front of the crate? on the right hand side? Yeah. It says bite. There's a few other words there . . . . Gasp! No no no nononono . . . the word is Bitte! Please! It says (in German), Please fill my water bowls when you have put me in the airecraft! I laughed and laughed, tears streaming -- Oh, says Angelo. Yeah, right . . . well, he doesn't LOOK like he bites, I figured it was a bit strange. What a glorious moment to add to Enzo's Story! I hope they keep the piece of paper for me; it's another Enzoheirloom I think. Stupidly, I didn't think to ask Angelo to keep it, but later I called Quarantine and left a message asking for it. You will see it in the photos on his webpage (17) . . . lucky I had the pictures so I knew what Angelo was talking about! Dear friends, I am falling asleep as I write. I do want to share and savour all these precious moments, but may I just put them gently on hold 'till (my) tomorrow. There will be the news of the Raffle winners to share with you and I promise I won't hold it back any longer than necessary. I am beyond overjoyed tonight, I know that Enzo is as safe as we could possibly have wished, and he is again in great hands, as he has been for the last five months. One extraordinary thing I only just realised when talking with Atia earlier (and there are no words adequate to describe her feelings) . . . it was July 12 when first she and I talked, and tonight it is December 12. And Enzo is Home at Last! Blessings on the AireSpirits who have guided our steps the whole way through. MARE MOORE: Oh that IS too funny! This has been SUCH an emotional ride for us all, filled with many tears of both joy and fear! Sue, I that know you are finally sleeping the sleep of the well- deserved and rightly so my dear. So sleep, sleep, sweet Sue - because of you, an all-too-close potential tragedy was averted and one very fortunate senior 'Dale will soon be in the loving arms of his family once more. JEAN MAPLE: Well done, Sue, and everyone concerned in bringing Enzo home; please give him a huge pat from us when you see him and a paw slap from Keri. You must feel over the moon. JEANNE COMBO: BRAVO! BRAVO!! BRAVO!!! Amazing feat of determination, will, courage, belief, caring, giving, coming together to make the unthinkable happen. EVIE FIESELER: Just a quick note to congratulate you, Sue! Paul, thank you so much, your poem says it all for me . . . ! Both with joy, I'm crying over the poem and then laughing about the bite/bitte thing and just now eating breakfast and having my first coffee of the day . . . . While you all sleep over at that end of the world, all of us over here are awake and happily loving Enzo and so grateful for what you have accomplished. SHEILA CUMBA: We are so thrilled to have Enzo back in Australia, and so much closer to being with his own family. He looks so much like our own Drago, and it brings tears to our eyes just thinking of him being so far away from the family who loves him so much. Good work by all of you wonderful Airedale lovers to accomplish what must have seemed to be the most impossible task.

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