Hotel Heidi – Man! She is a gem. Heidi is 8 years old, has some hip issues, and loves the clients at Stroppel Hotel and Mineral Baths in Midland, SD. She greets everyone, grabs a ball, and demands to be played with. She follows her mom, Laurie, around all day making sure her momma is looked after while working. She kisses big, shows the belly for rubs easily….what a belly rub snob! She will lay there until you rub, she will nudge you if you stop, and she will wiggle when you start rubbing again.
I was sitting outside one night at the hotel and looked over to her walking around the front of the building. I saw an opportunity to take a picture and loved what I got. She is protective, she sniffs around to make sure there is no “danger”, she enjoys the temperature dropping as the sun sets for the night, and this hotel and spot in the world is hers! She claimed it, marked it, and protects it. She is in heaven herself. The owner, Laurie, as she starts to clean the “baths”, starts by locking off the bath she is cleaning, gets ready to drain the water to clean the area, and she allows Heidi to get in. Laurie knows this helps with Heidi’s hip issues. Heidi gets in and plays, then all of a sudden Heidi relaxes, realizes she is getting relief from her daily pain, turns around and can walk up the stairs easily, kisses her momma, thanking her for the relief, and gets out on her own. Laurie drains the baths, cleans them, and starts to fill them up again. Laurie’s future plan is to allow other, well behaved animals, into the hotel, have an outdoor space for them, allow them in the water before cleaning the baths for their “human” counterpart, and eventually have boarding options. Only one small downfall, the fur smells differently once the animal has taken the “bath”. Personally, this didn’t bother me, I couldn’t “smell” anything different than dog smell. This process and vision is strong and loving for Laurie and Heidi. This is connecting for them and I see, at a distance, the love one can have for a companion in a dog. Reminds me of how my mother treats her dogs; Like Kings and Queens.
Animals are our rescues more so than we are to them. I will currently be looking at what that option looks like for me; a dog. I want to travel with this companion, bring this companion everywhere with me, and look to see what this companion can bring me in growth, strength, and love.
I miss Heidi, but will see her soon. I’m going back to Stroppel Hotel and this time Heidi and I will play more, I will give more belly rubs, and she will make the stay even twenty times more relaxing than it already is……See you soon Heidi. Love you! *Kisses*
Ask, Seek, knock and God Provides 