Former Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone rewrote what is, in my opinion, the greatest rendition of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It has become a revered part of my Christmas tradition, and I hope perhaps it may become a part of yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.  This is the first year I have changed the imagery on my blog.  Pictured here is my very favorite Christmas ornament in the world.  For anyone who knows anything about me they will understand why.  Also in recent years I have taken the liberty of changing a few things that have became dated politically.  However — please know this: the one constant is that our wolves world-wide are still in great peril.  Witness how Yellowstone National Park in the United States has irrefutably been COMPLETELY transformed for the better after their reintroduction.  Whatever your religion; whatever your race; wherever your nationality: I implore you to care about our wolves as well as all of our planet’s wildlife.  In my opinion they are God’s gifts for us to look after, care for, and protect:  they are a vital, and incalculable part of our world’s heritage.  “Happy Howlidays!” however you celebrate … Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, undecided, or whatever.  However you may feel, I believe Our Creator made us all.

The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the eve before Christmas
And to Santa’s dismay
Came such an icy storm
The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

As Santa paced and worried
And elves began to scowl
‘Rose a song through the wind:
A wolf pack’s mighty howl.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well… let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this …”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

On Lightfoot! On Blacktail! On Windswift! On Howler!
On GreenEyes! On MoonSong! On Hunter! On Prowler!
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

That night the wolves even taught Santa to howl
An ancient song filled with hope for Peace and Joy
That this season may bring for all Life on Earth
As they left special gifts for each girl and boy.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December.

Former Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone has rewritten what is in my opinion the greatest rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It has become a revered part of my Christmas tradition, and I hope perhaps it will become a part of yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.  In his seventh year of my blog I am taking the liberty of changing a few things that were dated politically.  But please know this:  our wolves are still in great peril.  Witness how they transformed Yellowstone National Park and know how very much we need our apex predators.  Whatever your religion; whatever your race; wherever you may be:  I implore you to care for our wolves as well as all of our planet’s wildlife, who remain in great peril.  In my opinion they are God’s gifts to us to look after and they are a tremendous part of the world’s heritage.  Happy Howlidays however you celebrate!  And may God bless us one and all!

        “The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas”

‘Twas the eve before Christmas                                                                                                                                                And to Santa’s dismay                                                                                                                                                          Came such an ice storm                                                                                                                                                           The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well … let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this …”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

“On Lightfoot! On Blacktail! On Windswift! On Howler!
On GreenEyes! On MoonSong! On Hunter! On Prowler!”
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December. 

Yes, I am writing a birthday post to my blog about my only baby boy!  Dakota is a wolf hybrid mixed with Siberian Husky and Malamute and he recently turned twelve!  I have found people either love animals or they pretty much do not care for them.  Of course he is no regular dog and I get that some can become upset by that.  For the record, I believe wild animals belong in the wild.  My conservative husband wisely pointed out to me that in order for that to happen we must work to preserve the world’s deserts, prairies, mountains, plains, islands, oceans, and forests.  Even our skies must be preserved.  I have said before I consider our wolfdogs ambassadors for their brethren in the wild.  Since wolves have been grossly maligned for millennia, it makes me feel great to see people awed, smiling, and asking if they can pet them!  I got my first wolf hybrid in college and she chose me.  I’ll never forget this pup with bi-colored eyes (that was the husky in her) came loping straight to me in this big enclosure that was surrounded by a lot of other people.  She licked me on my cheek and my heart was taken.  Nashoba lived to be about fifteen.  In the wild wolves have heartbreaking survival rates.  If heart worms from mosquitoes don’t get them, there’s mange.  On a human side, people poisoning a wolf mother’s den kills the nursing mother while their babies are left to slowly starve to death.  There are traps which at best leave them without a limb (if they can manage to chew it off and escape) and there are actual “sportsmen” armed with machine guns running them into the ground with exhaustion from helicopters.  I try to keep posts on my blog light, but wolves are my passion, and many people have no idea what all has and IS being done to them.  They are shot by ranchers the second a paw leaves protected national parks (like wolves can make that distinction) and, despite having tracking collars on them to show they’re being studied, they STILL wind up being shot.  Hunters claim they thought they were coyotes.  Of course coyotes are much smaller and redder, whereas most of our wolves today carry colors of white, black, and gray.  I shall not delve into the (no pun intended) grey area of coywolves.  Just know they are not only coming to a neighborhood near you: they are already here!  That’s what happens when wolves have no one left with whom to mate.  They will be smaller and and guess what?!  They are NOT out to eat your baby!  Pure wolves are inherently incredibly shy.  I cannot fathom why they have always been demonized.  In Native culture coyote is called “Survivor,” so do not bet on them just “going away.”  Much like their cousins, the fox, they have simply learned how to adapt.  Wolves have been annihilated almost into extinction worldwide, so their journey has been even more difficult.  Owning wolf hybrids are not “cool” like owning some kind of dog breed.  They need INCREDIBLE amounts of attention and activity.  I do it knowing my love for them is greater than my love for my “things.”  Dakota and his sister Cheyenne (who passed away from cancer last year) literally ate our beds, sofas, rugs and pillows just as appetizers.  My husband and I were their pack and they became quite anxious whenever we left.  Their claws and jaws went straight through sheetrock, wood, and they managed to peel up our metal door to the garage like it was a can of tuna.  I do have a theory:  people with lots and lots of children may have one pet.  People with no children most often have a couple and they will be considered family.  Despite how hard my folks worked, as an only child I will tell you that whenever I had ANYthing going on growing up:  a talent show, a swimming competition, a spelling bee, a play, or being in my high school drill team:  BOTH of my parents were always there for me!  I have always found it sad that people who adopt more than two animals are considered borderline nuts.  I just wish animal lovers were afforded an equal amount of respect versus being labeled “crazy cat lovers” or whatever.  The professional American distance runner Sara Hall is quoted as having said, “We all have our preferences – some people go for birds – but for me, there’s just something about the wolf; the design of it is really aesthetically pleasing.”  Just look at how the reintroduction of wolves completely transformed Yellowstone National Park!  It is nothing short of miraculous.  We need our apex predators to keep earth balanced.  Removing them is not the solution; preserving them is.  And preserve them in the wild we must!  Happy birthday Big D.

I was feeling great!  I was getting things done; in the zone … and by the next morning I did not know what hit me.  I was still wearing my mask, sanitizing my hands, and avoiding crowds.  I vaguely remembered my husband telling me the night before, with some alarm in his voice, that my body was on fire.  I woke up to a PIERCING headache and dry mouth.  It sounded like a hangover, only I don’t get them.  I heard yelling downstairs.  Our nine year old was sassing her father and things were escalating.  Summoning all my breath while simultaneously holding my throbbing head, I hollered for my two beloveds to come upstairs.  Looking probably somewhat crazed, I decreed there was to be absolutely NO yelling, that I did not feel well, and that they were on their own for the day.  The two just stood there blinking at me.  And then I fell asleep.  At some point someone came in wanting to know about dinner.  I told my husband he could get fast food (which I don’t like him to have) and I said yes when our little girl asked if she could eat all her Easter candy.  And then I fell back asleep.  Of course it was a weekend, so I had Saturday and Sunday to get through before I could call the doctor on Monday.  The next few days were a hazy dichotomy between time suspended and time speeding.  As I lay in bed I could hear the single clanging of a wind chime and the distant, melancholy sound of a train blowing its horn in sets of three.  My temperature stayed around 104º and I fell into a rhythm of sweats and chills.  Several times a day our half wolf brought me “food.”  I would wake up to find a (plush) pheasant under my chin.  Sometimes she brought me her squeaky pig or her crackly catfish, and once I got a skunk.  All the water I was drinking was causing unrelenting, burning acid reflux which could not be assuaged.  Sweet, blessed relief was found in a blue “sports drink,” which was my sole sustenance as I swigged down bottle after bottle and tried not to worry about the environment.  Having never felt this sick in my entire life, I feared it was COVID.  I was fortunate both to have a rapid results test done and have it come back negative.  It turned out I had the flu — type A.  I have heard that word used broadly whenever someone gets sick but I believe this is the first time in my life I have ever actually had the flu.  So my sweet husband drove to the pharmacy and I began taking medicine.  I started feeling better with twenty-four hours.  After forty-eight hours I ventured downstairs.  My little girl hollered “MAMA!!!” as I wobbled my way straight to the sofa.  Blue-tongued, blue-teethed, blue-lipped, and frankly slightly gamey after not having showered for a week, I felt like some creature slowly emerging from its burrow.  My child stared at me wide-eyed and I smiled to reassure her.  “I’ve missed you so much!” she cried as she wrapped her arms around me.  “You look thinner!” she exclaimed as I told her that was one thing positive to come from this.  I lost five pounds in five days.  My caring father-in-law even brought me my favorite:  matzo ball soup.  Now I am able to care for my precious family again.  The English author Thomas Fuller once said, “Health is not valued till sickness comes.”  Prior to this I would have said I have always been thankful for good health.  What I have learned is to be more mindful of others who have health issues all the time.  Each Sunday in church we pray for the sick, but I have vowed to remember them every single day; all around the world.  And God bless every doctor, nurse, aid, caregiver, and our animal companions; they are angels among us.

Former Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone has rewritten what is in my opinion the greatest rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It has become a revered part of our Christmas tradition, and I hope perhaps yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.  This is the only blog I have ever repeated and it is in its sixth year.  Whatever your race; whatever your religion; wherever you may be:  I implore you to care for our wolves who are all in peril.  They are the world’s heritage.  

Happy Howlidays!

The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the eve before Christmas
And to Santa’s dismay
Came such an icy storm
The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

As Santa paced and worried
And elves began to scowl
‘Rose a song through the wind:
A wolf pack’s mighty howl.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well… let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this …”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

On Lightfoot! On Blacktail! On Windswift! On Howler!
On GreenEyes! On MoonSong! On Hunter! On Prowler!
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

That night the wolves even taught Santa to howl
An ancient song filled with hope for Peace and Joy
That this season may bring for all Life on Earth
As they left special gifts for each girl and boy.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December.

I have just realized that I have not written much about one of the great loves of my lives … wolves.  If one hears the term “spirit animal” I think they tend to think Native American.  As a part Choctaw I am proud of that, but the idea is widely popular in many beliefs and cultures.  It is interesting to note various cultures have given amazingly similar attributes to the bison, bear, lion, eagle, stag, and wolf to name a few.  Animals have been and still are considered protective spirits, messengers, guardians, and even gods.  The ancient Egyptians had the falcon, the crocodile, and the jackal to name a few.  Hindus honor monkeys and cows.  Buddhists believe that all animals are sentient beings with a soul and that they are humans reincarnated.  The Druids and the Scandinavians took omens and signs from the animal kingdom.  Most Native American cultures believe different animals come to different people and that each person’s spirit animal is very personal.  They have rituals to determine animal guides including dreams, meditation, fasting, and being exposed to the elements.  Sometimes one leaves their people/clan for a period of time usually referred to as a “vision quest.”  I am Christian and I would say this:  if one is attracted to a certain animal (for instance someone with a hippo collection) it is not to be scoffed.  I believe we seek out those qualities we feel in ourselves.  Wolves are known to be highly-family oriented, to mate for life, to have strong intelligence, sharp instincts, and an appetite for freedom.  As someone who had a full-blood Choctaw grandmother I can remember distinctly freaking out over ravens and crows.  As a child I used to actually talk to them, but as I got older I became afraid; fearing they symbolized death.  When I met my husband, I noticed a link between him and crows/ravens.  Believe me when I say it is no coincidence.  Just as wolves have been demonized for centuries, I came to fear these black birds as harbingers of death.  I did not learn until after I was married that wherever wolves hunt, ravens are present.  They not only scavenge prey, they sometimes lead wolves to potential prey.  While it may seem that wolves have the “short end” of this symbiotic relationship with ravens, wolves and ravens have been observed playing together.  The raven is said to symbolize wisdom, affection, healing abilities, and longevity just to name a few.  It has been said the bird has been granted great power and is a symbol of mystery, memory, and thought.  I can tell you my husband loves the “high strange,” has an essentially photographic/incomparable memory, and his thoughts have really been ahead of their time.  Things I have dismissed as “nuts” have ALREADY come to fruition.  No matter what your religion:  I believe we can still learn lessons from God’s creatures.  The late American politician Stewart Udall once said, “Cherish sunsets, wild creatures and wild places.  Have a love affair with the wonder and beauty of the earth.”  As the entire world still grapples with Covid and staying home more, I would urge you to look at the wonder and beauty of the earth, and to give thought to what you may be attached to in terms of spirit animals.

Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone has rewritten what is in my opinion the greatest rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It will now always be a revered part of our Christmas tradition, and I hope perhaps yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.

Happy Howlidays!

The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the eve before Christmas
And to Santa’s dismay
Came such an icy storm
The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

As Santa paced and worried
And elves began to scowl
‘Rose a song through the wind:
A wolf pack’s mighty howl.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well… let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this in Idaho..”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

On Lightfoot! On Blacktail! On Windswift! On Howler!
On GreenEyes! On MoonSong! On Hunter! On Prowler!
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

That night the wolves even taught Santa to howl
An ancient song filled with hope for Peace and Joy
That this season may bring for all Life on Earth
As they left special gifts for each girl and boy.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December.

The wolf (Canis lupus) is a wild canine found throughout almost every part of the world.  In Canada it is the timber wolf; in North America the same species is also referred to as the gray wolf.  In Mexico and parts of the southern United States there is the nearly extinct and critically endangered red wolf.  I still remember from my college science days Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.  The wolves’ correlations are as follows:  Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivora, Canidae, Canis, and C. lupus.  The gray wolf is the second most specialized member of the genus Canis after the Ethiopian wolf, and is closely related to smaller Canis species such as the coyote and the jackal.  I am continually amazed that wolves have been vilified though the centuries while dogs have been revered.  Of course the very name “Canis” takes its name from the Latin word for “dog”.  More than half a century ago, well before the advent of comparative genomics, it has been observed through various cited examples that wolves and coyotes have lived in close proximity — as well as friendship — with people whom they had grown to trust.  On the other hand there have been examples of domesticated dogs who have turned “wild” and vicious.  To my knowledge there has never been one recorded instance of a wolf attacking a human unless they were quite ill; i.e. rabid.  And I will say with certainty no wolf has ever eaten a man, woman, or child.  Take the famous Wolf of Gubbio:  it has been claimed that there was a wolf who lived around the year 1220 who terrorized the Umbrian city eating children (insert incredulous eye-rolling here) until it was tamed by Saint Francis of Assisi, acting on behalf of God.  The wolf was reported to have been lingering outside the city gates, and eventually the mere sight of him caused the entire town to become alarmed.  They refused to venture outside the walls for any reason.  St. Francis decided he was going to meet the wolf despite being strongly advised against it.  It has been witnessed and recorded that when St. Francis of Assisi confronted the wolf, he trotted up to him docilely and lay at the monk’s feet, putting its head in his hands.  It has also been recorded that the feared wolf submitted to St. Francis, placing one of his forepaws in Francis’ outstretched hand, and an oath was made.  St. Francis then commanded the wolf to return with him to Gubbio.  People were said to have been utterly astonished at the sight and soon the whole city knew.  It is said the townsfolk gathered in the marketplace and were shocked to see the “ferocious” wolf behaving as his pet.  With the crowd gathered, St. Francis is quoted as having said, “How much we ought to dread the jaws of Hell, if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole city tremble through fear?”  St. Francis then renewed his pact with the wolf publicly, assuring it that the people of Gubbio would feed it from their own doors.  It is said the wolf lived for another two years at Gubbio, going from home to home for sustenance and honoring the provisions of St. Francis not to attack the city’s livestock.  The Italian city was saddened by the wolf’s eventual death and, according to tradition, Gubbio gave the wolf an honorable burial.  Later the Church of Saint Francis of the Peace was built at the site.  As someone who has spent over half of their life with high blood wolf hybrids, I can attest to the truth of wolves’ domestication.  They also have this habit about lifting their paw to “shake” while ducking their head.  I can completely see this behavior happening with St. Francis, as has been recorded.  If one thinks on it, a wolf has no need to raid livestock while it is being fed daily.  Wolves are not vicious creatures.  On the contrary:  they are highly sensitive, highly inquisitive, highly intelligent, and highly loyal beings.  St. Francis was a Roman Catholic friar and is widely known as the patron saint of animals.  Although I am not Roman Catholic, I absolutely believe this story.  I took this picture of my boy Dakota who was laying on top of me in bed.  He was in the middle of yawning.  Does he seem vicious to you?  After I took it he tenderly licked my seven-year-old little girl on the nose and she giggled.  Do not believe everything you hear.  Question what is being reported as “fact.”  This is a take-a-way for all of us — the believers and the doubters alike.  Think for yourself; discover the truth for yourself.  As for me, I am dedicated to the protection, the preservation, and the proliferation of wolves.  I definitely have lupus love.

Since the very first Christmas Eve of my blog, I am continuing my annual tradition.  It is the only post I will ever repeat.  Whatever race you are, whatever religion you are, wherever you may be — I pray that you are blessed.  And I implore that you will actively care for our world’s wolves who are in extreme peril.  They are the heritage of us all.

Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone has rewritten what is in my opinion the greatest rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It will now always be a revered part of our Christmas tradition and I hope perhaps yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.  Happy Howlidays!

The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the eve before Christmas
And to Santa’s dismay
Came such an icy storm
The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

As Santa paced and worried
And elves began to scowl
‘Rose a song through the wind:
A wolf pack’s mighty howl.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well… let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this in Idaho..”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

On Lightfoot!  On Blacktail!  On Windswift!  On Howler!
On GreenEyes!  On MoonSong!  On Hunter!  On Prowler!
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

That night the wolves even taught Santa to howl
An ancient song filled with hope for Peace and Joy
That this season may bring for all Life on Earth
As they left special gifts for each girl and boy.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December.

For the third year running I am continuing my annual tradition.  It is the only blog I have ever repeated.  Whatever race you are, whatever religion you are, wherever you may be — I hope that you are blessed.  And I hope that you care for our wolves who are in peril.  They are our world’s heritage.

Defenders of Wildlife Senior Northwest Representative Suzanne Asha Stone has rewritten what is in my opinion the greatest rendition of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” since its inception.  It will now always be a revered part of our Christmas tradition and I hope perhaps yours as well.  I am grateful for her generosity in allowing me to repost her work.  Happy Howlidays!

The Wolves’ Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the eve before Christmas
And to Santa’s dismay
Came such an icy storm
The reindeer couldn’t budge his sleigh.

As Santa paced and worried
And elves began to scowl
‘Rose a song through the wind:
A wolf pack’s mighty howl.

From the thick of the storm
O’er deep snow on big padded feet
Came eight silvery wolves
Ice and wind could not beat.

Santa’s mouth hung open for a blink
As the wolves lined up in front of his sleigh
Then he sputtered to the elves
“Well… let’s be on our way!”

Santa thanked each wolf
As the elves finished loading the last gift
Then he sprinkled them with fairy dust
Chuckling, “That’ll give you the lift.”

“They won’t believe this in Idaho..”
He laughed, a merry twinkle in his eyes
Then the elves harnessed the wolves
And they took to the skies.

On Lightfoot! On Blacktail! On Windswift! On Howler!
On GreenEyes! On MoonSong! On Hunter! On Prowler!
The wolves’ eyes glowed as they leapt through the storm
Santa wished his own coat could keep him as warm.

That night the wolves even taught Santa to howl
An ancient song filled with hope for Peace and Joy
That this season may bring for all Life on Earth
As they left special gifts for each girl and boy.

‘Twas that eve before Christmas
Santa will always fondly remember
When wolves rescued his mission
That stormy December.