Down the block there is a goat with a goat house that is always tied up. Every time we pass him he is Maaahhhhhing to say hello. One time Will and I were running and we had to untangle the goat b/c he got stuck in some rubbish. I named him Gary. We all say hi to Gary when we drive/walk/run by him.

The kids tend to think i am a witch b/c I say things and then they magically happen- like that time in Norway when i said ugh I wish we’d find a cat,  and just 2 minutes later a cat walked up and let us pick it up. Anyways, I always say one day i’ll rescue Gary. He will find us. This was that day.

I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and all of a sudden Gary’s Maaahhhhhhhh sounded a lot closer than usual. I looked out the window and there was Gary in the farm in front walking around in a panic with a rope and metal post dragging behind him. I sent the girls to go get him since it isn’t the easiest to do with Maru. He started following them to our house, but a truck passed by and scared him so he ran off into the neighbors yard. We have bushes and a mesh type fence that separate our yards, but obviously the kids know where the hole is…b/c i mean that is a kid’s job.

You might guess that i went into that hole and started maaahhhhhhing with my ass up in the air to lure Gary into our yard through the little hole. If you did guess that, you were correct! It is an image that Will set will forever be embedded into his memory.

Of course Gary came on over b/c clearly he’s been searching for us his entire goat life. We untied his rope and he had a run around our yard. Toobs was so excited and no one could believe that Gary was in our yard.

This lasted 5 minutes, then we heard the quad. The farmer was driving all around looking for Gary. We considered hiding him, but oh that Gary mahhhhhh…i’d have to gag him. Will went off to let the farmer know that Gary was in our yard. We were all conflicted about it, but obviously had no where to put Gary, and in the end ugh i hate to say it, but the farmer was super nice! He took the girls on a quad ride, and in the end went into his house and got them ice cream cones. Will walked Gary home and now he is back in his yard. He has a horse friend the past week so hopefully that helps his loneliness.

Part of me wishes the farmer was an a-hole so I could just steal Gary, bring him to Pico and not think twice, but that wasn’t the case. It is just the culture and mindset and I can only hope that changes as the years pass. He was a really nice guy, and while i hate that Gary isn’t free to roam all over, I do know that there are much worse situations he could be in. At least they built him a little house i guess.

Love ya Gary…who may be a girl, but too late for the name change.