The Seance Newsletter

Thoughts From Suzane

One of the wonderful things that happens to me in my travels is that I continue to visit places and meet people that enrich my life. Recently, I had one such experience unexpectedly. I was in Tampa for a combination of work and attending a graduation, when a client said to me, “I see you're going to St. George [Utah]; are you going to the animal sanctuary?” I had literally just come out of a séance, and had no recollection of any such place, or the town she kept referring to, Knabe. However, even in my altered state I sometimes remember certain things; this time what I remembered was the animal sanctuary, and Knabe. As an animal lover, my ears perked up and I had my mind set on finding this place.

The Red Mountain Spa has now become one of my “homes away from home”, and I had wanted to go to Zion again to explore the beautiful Red Mountains. I decided that I would check around, and see if this place, “Knabe”, was anywhere near the mountains. I had asked my friend Nancy at the Spa about Zion; she told me that one could drive over the mountain and through the tunnel to get to it.

Driving on the winding roads, up this breathtaking mountain, I noticed that up ahead at the entrance the ranger was there collecting money to go into the park. I pulled up and asked the ranger, “Do you know of the animal sanctuary around here?” She said, “Best Friends?” I assumed that she was asking if my friend and I were best friends! I then said, “It's in a town, Knabe” . . . she repeated again, “Best Friends?” Come to find out that “Best Friends” is the name of the animal sanctuary in Knabe, up over the mountain on Route 85. Boy, was I feeling dumb; I never knew the name of the place!

I continued to drive through the land that I have come to love. Those rocks speak to me of the natives who once walked the land, in awe of its beauty and greatness. I am always amazed and overcome with the beauty of America ; it really is, “from sea to shining sea,” simply beautiful. I approached the town of Knabe , where I learned that the area was used for episodes of the “Lone Ranger” and many other Hollywood Western movies (of course, they noted that Hollywood wasn't interested in Westerns anymore)! I then looked up and saw, in big letters: Best Friends. I turned onto “ Angel Canyon ”; a road I learned was appropriately named, as I drove up through the canyon.

As one enters Best Friends, you can't help but see the lovely, well-kept gardens. As a matter of fact, the entire place is so well-kept that I said, “If or when I get old, I want to be taken care of like this!” I pulled into the parking lot and went inside, where I was greeted by a lovely Dalmatian, just like the ones from the Disney movie; her job was to greet those who enter. I checked the place out, and everyone couldn't be friendlier . . . just what I would expect at an animal place! I learned that there were tours, but realized that I could come back on my other day off. I made a reservation to come back early Friday morning.

Friday came and I started my journey toward Knabe once again, looking forward to the tour and wondering what it would be like. After arriving I learned there were, in fact, three tour vans with folks thinking, just like me, “What should I expect?” I also learned that there were 3,300 acres of land devoted to the animals! I've never in my life seen such an incredible place . . . and to think I learned of it from a séance from Tampa , Florida ! It takes a lot to completely blow me away, and here I was visiting Dogtown and Kitty Heaven, along with 1,600 rabbits, horses and birds! Then there was the cemetery, which was so beautiful, full of chimes, beads strung from tree to tree, and stones with words of love and gratitude for the four-legged families. It brought back memories of when a client had to sneak her dog into the cemetery to be with her mother, because pets weren't allowed! I also remembered a caller on one of my shows sharing how after her cat died she was told to go get another kitty. I recall her saying, “If you lost your grandmother, no one would say to you, ‘well, why don't you just replace her?'” This sanctuary would be a place to share that understanding with others. Those that don't have the four-legged ones as part of their families don't quite understand that you don't just replace them. Of course, there's the “return of Max” story (for those that have read my book, Second Chance), where I talk about our deep connection.

My thoughts are, and have always been, that it's all about love. No one can define what that love means or the connections are for you, since what each person feels is individual. Whatever those connections are, remember that they are all about love. No one can judge or say, “ T hat's not really love!” because you're not married to someone, you're not “really” their mother, you didn't have the baby girl, etc. This much I know to be true: My work is all about love. When connecting with a loved one who has passed over – whether it be a mother, brother, niece, dog, grandfather or non-family member – it is, and will always be, about what is important to each and every one of us . . . it's ALL ABOUT LOVE. There are no limitations or ways to love or be loved.

With those thoughts, enjoy this wonderful summer upon us with all those YOU love!

Warmly,

Suzane