Sue writes:
Well, the day has come at last. Sunday 29th April, 2007. Happy Birthday to our darling Enzo.
Enzo celebrates not just his 12th birthday, but best of all, he celebrates it at HOME in Sydney, Australia, with his very own family.
(Tonight is his party; although I cannot be there, Lizzie Hurtt is there and will, I am sure, help to blow out the candles on his cake. I was on the phone to Atia just as Lizzie arrived, and I could hear her delighted voice as she greeted him. She got a large Enzo knee-nudge in return.)
I've been waiting for this truly momentous milestone to give an update on our boy.
Every week I have a telephone conversation with Atia, up there in Sydney. How I wish we were just around the corner so I could visit them and once again get a knee-nudge from Enzo, telling me he's happy to see me.
Wombat Bend is definitely not the same without his joyous company, and I knew it would be thus. Enzo has left his XXXXXL pawprints firmly at WB - often I glance out of my office window and think I see him pottering along the far side of the billabong. It's just a shadow, I tell myself. Just a shadow.
I travel in my mind all the way back to July 2006, and the incredible journey he made from Czech Republic back to Australia in December. It makes my heart ache to think of the confusion he must have felt, wondering why so many changes were happening and where were Atia & Maia? Of the stability & comfort he found in those life-saving five months with Simona & her Black Russian Terriers; of the 22-hour flight to Australia & the 30 days in the Quarantine kennels in Melbourne, where Bill & I got to really know him in person, not just from photographs; and the never-to-be-forgotten day in January 2007 when we brought him home to Wombat Bend.
I think of the precious eight weeks he lived with us at Wombat Bend, the fun he had in the company of Ascha & Aerem & Chester, each day a new adventure, each night the comfort of a warm & soft bed, surrounded by
love. I hope it restored his confidence & his trust - I like to believe it did.
I think of the beginnings of Sue's Potting Shed (now almost completed, forever stamped with Enzo's pawprints); of making sure he was in the best possible health before our journey to Sydney, and of the eventual glorious welcome on March 5 when we delivered him into the wide-open arms of Atia amid a flood of happy tears.
I think of the hundreds, indeed thousands, of hopeful hearts of all of you around the world, awaiting the news of this long-planned reunion; my own heart still bursts with emotion at those moments. They are indelible, imprinted forever.
There is one more Enzo Moment to share with all of you. Upon our return to Wombat Bend, an extraordinary - in fact, overwhelming - gift arrived. Some of you are already aware of it, others not, but in truth it is a gift that belongs not to me, not to Bill nor to Wombat Bend & the Aussie Airedales - it belongs to us all who love Enzo; I am charged with caring for it. It is cherished beyond words and no thanks could ever be adequate for this treasure.
It is a full-sized, miraculously lifelike portrait of Enzo. It was painted by Emma's Journey artist, Jane Dingwall. It is a gift from the Airedale Community of the world and it glows with love; I reach out my hand every day and touch his dear face. At night, as I go upstairs, I turn and watch his eyes as they follow me, knowing he will be there in the morning to greet me again.
Ros Padfield, Bill & Sue with Jane's portrait of Enzo
Enzo - my Hero. Happy happy birthday, Enzo our Hero.
ENZO'S JOURNEY begins HERE.
For those who might like to revisit Enzo's reunion with Atia & Maia on March 5, 2007, here is a short cut.
In addition, with very special thanks to Ellen McGeagh, Editor of ATRA Aire-Mail, of which the April issue contains an account of Enzo's Journey, and the forthcoming ATCA magazine, The American Airedale, will also feature Enzo's Journey - with grateful thanks to Editor Susan Metcalf.
MARE MOORE:
Geez louise, you sure do know how to make a gal tear up, Sue!
A VERY Happy birthday to our much-beloved Enzo (my 'baby' sister is 43 that same day.
JAN WILLIAMS:
We send many happy birthday wishes to our big buddy, Enzo. It is wonderful that your special day can be spent with your family.
Pawslaps and hugs,
Jan
Gus: Is Enzo having a cake? I love cake!
Leda: Awwwww Mom! Why can't we go to his party??
ELLEN McGEAGH:
Happy Birthday, dear Enzo! So glad you're celebrating with your family, thanks to Sue & Bill! And to all of the Airedale people who helped, across the world.
LIBBY KARIER & MOLLY:
Happy happy happy birthday, Enzo.
Treats will be handed out today & tomorrow in your honor (dogs get to celebrate their day in EVERY time zone).
Wish we all could be there to celebrate, but we're with you in our hearts.
Molly sends pawslaps & bodyslams; I send a BIIIIIIIIG hug.
BOB ANDERSON:
Happy Birthday, indeed! In truth, it is more than a birthday - it is a miracle!
The fantastic portrait could not go to a more appropriate "keeper" than Sue.
CINDY BIRMINGHAM & TALLULAH:
Happy Birthday to Enzo! This story just gets better. What a beautiful portrait of him. Everyone involved in getting him home, especially Sue & Bill, deserves a great big hug. He is such a handsome boy.
DEBBIE KARLEY:
Those photos of Enzo's portrait are worth a thousand, no, make that a million words. Very moving & powerful emotions, indeed.
MAREIKE KUYPERS:
Thank you for putting the painting of Enzo into the chronicles of his journey. This story still can bring tears to my eyes. You guys do wonderful work and it is greatly appreciated.
MARY LAPOINTE & SARGE:
Dear Enzo . . . Happy birthday tomorrow! Sarge & I love your beautiful portrait . . . it looks life-like. We hope that you have a fantastic time at your party.
MARIE CHISMAR:
Happy Birthday to Enzo, probably one of his best birthdays yet!
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