A Message From Penny and the Piggyfriends

Gulliver, the Piggyfriends' spokespig greets Alge at the Rainbow Bridge

Penny Charlesworth

Sunday, February 21, 2010
I am sending my deepest sympathy to all the family on the passing of dear Beverly.

I never met her in real life but knew her as a member of the GPDD, an online guinea pig lovers forum, where we all knew her as Alge.

She was always ready with a kind word or advice and made us all laugh with her stories about her guinea pigs' adventures.

She was a true friend to us all and will be sorely missed.

Please accept my most sincere condolences at this, the saddest of times.

Penny and the Piggyfriends, a guinea pig sanctuary in England.

A Message From Cindy, Tumbleweed and Friday

Sunshine Over the Rainbow Bridge with Alge

I had been so pleased to see Alge return to the Digest, and it was such a shock when she became sick again and I read how bad things were. I had hoped that somehow she could fight through her illness once more, with her wonderful humor and great inner strength. Unfortunately it was not meant to be. What a loss her passing is, for family, for friends, and for the Digest as a whole. She was certainly a cherished member, and we were all so very lucky to know her through her lovely postings. She was, and remains, an inspiration. I've kept her e-mails to me, as I keep many of my mails in a personal "archive," and it is a comfort that she will continue to live through her words. Alge, you will never leave our hearts.

Thank you, Alge, for being you. We miss you dearly.

Bethann, Tony, and family, we are so very sorry for your loss.

Sadly,
Cindy, Tumbleweed, and Friday

Copyright GPDD 2010

Cindy's Last Message to Alge

Friday (left) and Tumbleweed (right)

Dear Alge,

We love you. I guess those are the three most important words anyone
can say. We love you, and we miss you. We hope and pray you can return
to us, but I'll say now what I tell our piggies when they begin to look
toward the Bridge: we need you and we want you to stay, but if you feel
you must go, we understand.

If you do leave for the Bridge, we are sure you will find the truth in
the Rainbow Bridge story, that all of your piggies who went before will
be awaiting you, and will cross over with you. So many sweet faces,
with hearts full of love and appreciation, will make your passage a
beautiful one. And then you'll get to meet Debbie Jones and Joe
Petrillo and Peter Gurney and Kirsten of the Critter Crew and any other
GPDDers who have passed over. And, of course, your beloved relatives
who are there, including your wonderful father who recently left.

Again, we love you. We hope you come back to us, here on earth, but if
not, you will never leave our hearts.

In special friendship,
Cindy, Tumbleweed, and Friday

Captain Jack Converses with Onion Ring

Thanks Nancy and Alyssa and of course Onion Ring for letting us share this, everyone else be sure to check out the small animal channel link to view Onion Rings profile.

Onion Ring as Hokey One Spumoni in an elevator, heading to the Planet Lettuce. Copyright Alyssa Buecker

Here is the transcript between Captain Jack and Onion Ring

My Dear Onion Ring,
Our mommas know each other! I was so happy to learn tonight that you are here, too. Princess Snowflake has a profile here as well. On another day I'll help you find her site. I should introduce myself. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow although my friends just call me Capt'n Jack. I have a little brudder who doesn't have a profile here yet but his name is Barnacle Bill. I see that Aggie has already welcomed you. She's a very cool ferret lady, and our Pirate Brigade's Captain Mingo's "little flower." Yes, he loves her. If you come by and leave me a message it will be much easier for me to get back here to your profile. Everytime I visit I leave a vote. (However, you can only vote 1 time each day for each critter but you can vote for however many critters you like.) I learned about "I always leave a vote when I visit" from Aggie's Angel Brother, Thor, who went to the Bridge just about a month ago in the middle of surgery. It was so sad. We all miss him very much. He was a biker, liked ATV's and all that. So while he wasn't a pirate himself, he was a great friend to us pirates. Oh, I'm sure that you know that if you click the red link with our name at the end of the blog, it will take you to that critter's profile page. You can practice with my page. :) (Don't forget to leave me a vote! :) You're very brave to be traveling thru space in an elevator. We have your movie, Carrot Wars. There are all kinds of cool small animals here. Mostly little brudder and I hang out with our pirate buds and they all seem to be ferrets. I had no idea how much fun being a ferret must be. When you visit me, you can visit any of the critters on my blog and tell them that you're my friend. They are very friendly and will make you welcome. Merlin is a Wizard and he's very wise. And there are some very nice piggies here, too. Hope to see you on my blog page! (Bythe way, I left you a vote. Or did I already tell you that?)
Capt'n Jack
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Thanks so much to all my critter friends! :)
Captain Jack Sparrow, you are such a handsome young pirate of a pig! And I'm sure that Barnacle Bill is dashing, too! To both of you, I say thank you and ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! I am having fun seeing the pages and voting for all my new friends on here, including Nero, Aggies, Noah, Nibbit, Angel Bosco (and all her wonderful piggy pals), Hammy, Chilla, Tigga, The Hamster Trio, Angel Pepper, Cosmo Bunny, Angel Ozzy & the Gang, Jitterbug, Clovie Dovie, Trina, Fannie-May-Ferret, Hammy, Elizabeth, Tiny DC & Pippin, and all the rest of you really great critters.
It's fun to spend some time on here after a hard day of filming! :)
Love and WHEEEEEEEEEPS,
Onion Ring
Come visit me, Onion Ring.

Hi
Just stopping by to leave you a vote and a greeting!Hello!
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Ahoy There, Captain Jack!
I just visited your page again, Captain Jack, and this time I posted a comment for you! I hope that you like it!
Love and WHEEEEEEEEEPS,
Onion Ring
Come visit me, Onion Ring.

Hi Onion Ring
Still traveling thru space in that elevator. Wow.You must really like to travel. Thanks for visiting me. It was good to hear from you. It sounds like you're meeting a whole lot of new friend. I, of course, am dropping off another vote for you! We guinea pigs are an interesting sort -- you're a movie star, I'm a pirate -- wonder what some of the others are besides being guinea pigs.
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Hi
I just stopped by to give you a vote!! And to say a friendly hello!
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Hey Onion Ring
I bet it's starting to get cold where you live. We had snow yesterday and today, but it's melted where the sun is shining. The two of us wanted to say hi. Did you hear that Barnacle Bill was COTD on Sat. We almost missed it 'cause momma didn't sign in the 'puter until late. So we had a late night celebration. He was really tickled to be so honored. Remember, he was from an animal abuse case and all this attention is making him feel really 'escited. He had a tough life before and we feel good that we can make him feel happy.
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Congrats, Barnacle Bill, on being COTD!!!
You really deserve it, you handsome devil! It IS getting cold here, and today we had snow. Luckily, I don't have to go outside and be in it.
Come visit me, Onion Ring.

Onion Ring!
So good to hear from you. We both hope that youse hadz a very nice holiday and dat your mum is feeling better and better all the time. It looks like you've met some really fine friends here. Our mom said to pleeze tell your mum and her mum hello! It seems like its always late when one of us is writing, but its getting late again. Have you and the space traveling elevator stopped to rest or explore anywhere? We are great fans of all the guinea pig movie stars.
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Guess what, Onion Ring!
Capt'n Jack got Critter of the month for Dec. Wheeze was all shocked. Thought we were on a wrong page. It is pretty 'eciting. You'll have to swing by an dtake a look at us in our Santa pictures that Pirate Mingo made for us. Dat one picture of Jack when the camera is turned the wrong way reminds me of you -- only your camera is turned the right way. Bof of youse looking like you're going up into space. I know you are, but Captain Jack isn't!!
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Hey Onion Ring
I was back here to write to you but something must have gone wrong cause I didn't leave you a message. We bof got your messages and were real happy to hear from you. Our friend Mingo made the pictures for us. Isn't that cool. Its the first time we've ever had holiday pictures. Course, is our first Chrsitmas, too. But the Jolly Rodents never had holiday pictures. And we're Jolly Rodents, too, when you think about it. The Jolly Rodent Pigggy Pirate Crew! Or just the Jolly Rodent Pirate Crew. We've been havin' fun with names.Momma still misses them udder Jolly Rodent guys dat have gone on to the Bridge. Chester went dar last Dec. on the 18th so Christmas reminds her of dat.But you guys and your momma have been with us through all those things. We're just glad your mom has come so far since her bad accident. Our momma's test came back good. She's still got a long way to go but at least, she says, it looks like she can keep going! She seems to think that's funny but we on't understand all that human stuff, do you? Marry Chrsistmas to you and all your fambly!
Come visit me, Captain Jack Sparrow II, Dec. COTM Thanks everyone & Barnacle Bill: shipwreck survivor and June COTM :).

Copyright Small Animal Channel Onion Ring's Profile

The Tale of the Little Lost Rat

One day not very long ago at all, a little rat woke up to find himself all alone and in a strange place, worse than that the strange place was outside and it was not very warm.

"What do I do?" squeaked the little rat

"Dont worry I will look after you" replied a strange voice

"Who are you?"

"I am your Guardian Angel and the first thing we need to do is find a kind human to look after you"

"What about that lady in red?" asked the rat "No, not her"

"What about that man in the official uniform" asked the rat "No, not him"

Just then a car parked right next to where the little rat was waiting and a man with a friendly face, fat tummy and big grey beard like santa got out.

"Thats him" said the Guardian Angel

The little rat stuck his head out of the grass and made his way toward the man.

"Hello little guy, are you lost?" asked the man "Lets see if we can find where you belong"

The little rat wriggled into the mans hand and together they set off, they found the man in the official uniform and the friendly man asked what he should do with the rat, the official told him there had been a rat show at the weekend and that the little rat had probably escaped, he suggested running him over.

"See I told you not that one!!" said the Guardian Angel

"Well it looks like you are coming home with me" said the man

The man took the little rat with him to his home, realising that the rat needed somewhere safe to stay as well as food and water the man went to shop and bought a cage,bedding, a water bottle, food bowl, food and hidey hole for the little rat.

The little rat went straight into his new home and hid in the hidey hole to sleep.

The man was confused about where the rat had come from as he was incredibly friendly and seemed well fed he was sure a family somewhere were missing the little rat.

Not being very familiar with the world of the internet the man asked his daughter to look around and see what she could find.

Despite checking several websites including the website for the venue where the little rat was found the daughter could find no mention of any shows having ever been held there, and after lurking on several forums she found no mention of anyone having lost a rat.

When she reported back to the man, he was quietly pleased with this information as during the few days it had taken the daughter to do her research the family had fallen in love with the little rat.

The little rat had also fallen in love with his new family, he loved coming out for cuddles and climbing onto peoples shoulders, hiding in their pockets and hoods to sleep.

"We need to give you a name" said the man "What would you like to called?"

"Guardian Angel" said the rat "What would be a good name for my new family to call me"

"Well" replied the Guardian Angel "Before I became a Guardian Angel my friends in the virtual world knew me as Algernon, this was a name I chose from a story called "Flowers for Algernon" Algernon was a rat just like you, so I think the name would suit you well, and now you have a new home and are safe its time for me to leave you with your family and look for more little lost critters"

"Thank you Guardian Angel" said the rat "I will tell the man my new name"

So the rat told the man that from now on he wanted to be known as Algernon Rat and the man agreed.

They all lived happily every after......

The man is the story is my Dad, the daughter is me (M) and the little rat known as Algernon Rat has been in his new home for about 4 weeks now. We believe our Alge was watching over him as the Guardian Angel of the story.

The Pirate Piggy Adventure

Welcome to the Pirate Piggy Adventure begun by our own beloved Alge in May 2009.

This is the transcript of the adventures saved by me M as the adventure progressed, each change of text colour represents a new group of piggies reporting on the adventure.

Here is the first post written by Alge, to read the whole adventure please click the links.
Download: The Pirate Piggy Adventure
Or view online The Pirate Piggy Adventure

Copy Right GPDD 2009

Pirating Piggies May 2009

Hi Every Pig and Every Person,

Wheese be reading da posts at da archives and our new address was only partially underlined and in blue there. Hmm... we wonder if dis makes it look like dat underlined part is our entire address. We hopes not, but we nots be getting either mail or our GPDDs. So we will put da complete new address in quotation marks. Will someone den writes to us so dat we may see dat the correct address be posting? It be: "Da Piggy Pirates@ aol.com" and it not be case sensitive.

Barnacle Bill from Remembering Alge..

Alge has thought of a couple other variations of da name but we told her just to stick wif what she has. Wheese be pirates and not overly particular on whether wheese be "Da Piggy Pirates" or "Piggy Pirates X2." Wheese thinks she told you dat someone actually already had "Piggy Pirates," da scurvy dogs. Dat was da name wheese really wanted. As for da virtual events: Dis is meant for everyone, but especially for Miss Mary Fran and she'll know why. (Wheese been procrastinators.)

Alge be lining up a bunch of medical tests and procedures and should have made some more appointments today but somehow managed to sleep instead. We bet dat be Freudian or somfin like dat. She not wants to make dem appointments. But there are 3 scheduled for next week and there might end up being more. But maybe whee should begin planning our Pirate Adventure for sometime in June. Be ye willing?

Captain Jack from Remembering Alge..

Father's Day be June 21st so that might not make that a good time for da trip. What say you? It be a fine time for us. Do ye sailors want to start on a weekday or a week end? Dare be a Friday da 12th in June. Anytime from da 12th on be fine wif us. So sing out you lads and lasses! When do ye be wanting to set sail? This trip can last as long as ye like. You'll have to bring some imagination wif you, but you piggies have never been short on dat! Whee'll be stopping at at least one island where be be passing out maps and ye can follow dem and find your own treasure. You can go in pairs, in groups, singly or what ever way strikes yur fancy. Wheese be gettin' 'xcited 'bout dis trip already. And da ship has been being polished and shined and will be ready to dazzle you right down to da glossy teakwood haul.

Wheese be sure whee can count on our usual partners in crime to be

ready to sail anytime. Also, our sail remains at half-mast for our good friend Manny da Boar who is busy having adventures at da Bridge. But wheese do miss him being wif us.

Capt'n Jack and Barnacle Bill, 1st Mate

(respond to "Da Piggy Pirates" address. Wheese don't know why we not writing from dare.)

A Message From Nancy, Alyssa and the Film Star Piggies

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Dear family of Bev,

I'm posting here a message I sent to the GPDD listserv on Friday, February 19. I get the GPDD messages in Digest form, and hadn't gotten any for a couple of days, but had an uneasy feeling, so searched for the messages online. Here's my post:

We get the GPDD in Digest form, so hadn't gotten any news about Alge. But about an hour ago, I got a sharp sense of foreboding, and felt that I needed to know something about how she was doing. I went to the GPDD site (something I never do), in the hope of reassurance.

I organized the February archive by date, started looking towards the bottom, and then...my heart just about stopped.

I could no longer see the screen, the tears were coming so fast.

How can it be that such a big heart, a heart that was a friend to all of us and to all of our piggies, has been stilled? How can such a thing happen?

We have lost someone very precious and dear to us all. Alyssa and her movies have lost their biggest fan and their staunchest supporter.

Alge was a wonderful friend. She emailed us (especially Alyssa) all the time, for many years. We knew she was chronically ill and, from time to time, she made reference to her ailments (for one thing, she was waiting for a lung transplant), but she rarely dwelled on such topics. No, it was all about the piggies, and she was always complimenting Alyssa on her movie, Carrot Wars. To me, it was wonderful that Alge was so encouraging to my daughter, a young person, and cheering her on from day to day. I still have the email that Alge sent when G-Force first came out:

Hello Alyssa!!!

I miss emailing you but there never seems to be time. As for G-Force, I'm certain that they're plagiarizing Carrot Wars or that, at least, it was their inspiration! Delighted that GP's are getting some attention these days. For the longest time, I believe that Carrot Wars was the only US made movie about GPs.

"We stand on the shoulders of those who've gone before us!!"

Alge and the Piggy Pirate Crew

It's amazing, the power of this listserv. Peter Gurney was a personal friend of mine, and I would never have met him and gotten to know him, if Alyssa and I hadn't subscribed to the GPDD. And then, there was Alge.

Although she'd lived an extremely interesting life filled with adventures, her world had gotten much smaller in the past several years, as her health situation worsened. Her beloved guinea pigs (first, the Jolly Rodents and then Cap'n Jack Sparrow and Barnacle Bill) helped fill the hole in her life, and so did her friends on the GPDD.

There are no words to describe the terrible emptiness I feel. For those of us on the GPDD who counted on Alge to show up and give us her very humane, very compassionate, very creative "take" on every issue concerning guinea pigs, it is like we have lost a family member.

There is no greater honor that we can give Alge now than to carry on her love of guinea pigs, and her basic human decency. It is such a blessing that her piggies are going to a good home. I'm sure that it was so hard for Alge to leave them, loving them as much as she did.

There are really no words to say what we are all feeling right now. This is indeed an irony, since our dear friend Alge was so good with words.

One thing we know: Alge is now at peace. And my fondest hope is that she is now reunited with her darling Jolly Rodents.

Love and WHEEEEEEEEEEEPS,

Nancy (& Alyssa, who is grief-stricken, too)
http://www.carrotwars.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010

There is one more thing about Bev (we knew her on the listserv as Alge) that I need to post: My daughter Alyssa (whom Alge continually sent supportive and encouraging emails to, anyway) was in a serious car accident a few years ago, when she had just started college. She was severely injured, and needed major surgery. She was in great pain for a long time, as it took ages (and lots of Physical Therapy, etc.) for her to recover. Bev was like a guardian angel to her at that time, sending her special goodies through the postal mail and helping see her through this dark time. We owe Bev a huge debt. Not only did she always applaud Alyssa's creativity and promote the sales of Alyssa's videos whenever she could, but she also ministered to her when she was badly hurt, and very much in need of a friend.

Alge, we will always love you, and I know that Alyssa will always think of you as her special Guardian Angel.

Message from Ellen and her 8 piggies and bunny

Cheyenie

I wanted to put in something on the scrapbook for Alge.
I have been busy and grateful with my employer, and also with my 8 piggies.

Li'l Guy

I just read the post to Gpdd of March 3rd, which included what Tony, Alge's hubby, had sent to Susi. I did not sign the guestbook yet, but when I read what Tony had written for Alge on the Newcomer page, I burst into tears.

Gin Gin

Grief is a strange thing and holds no limit.
I feel glad that Tony and Alge's daughters, found out something so beautiful about her, that she did not 'let them in on'  while in this physical world, and that is, she had the GPDD family.  Since I am in Hawaii I shall tell you that in Hawaiian, the word ohana means family, and that is what we are, the Gpdd ohana.

Li'l Guy and Gin Gin

I have attached some photos of photos which I tried very hard to capture in filtered sunlight, with my new cell phone camera, so as to not look too one dimensional, of the piggies I had who have since left this physical world and departed for the Rainbow bridge.

Li'l Guy napping

I do not have a photo of Mercy who had been with me only two days.  But his love is included in this, I am sure.

Gin Gin

Beginning with the photo that Michelle, a vet tech at the exotic vets, took of Cheyenie under a Christmas hat, then Li'l Guy (white and orange face), then Gin Gin (tri-colored, black face), then the two of them together, then Li'l Guy napping outside his cage next to the wall; Gin Gin  in the same area. then the full photo; and last but not least, a photo of Rufie taken last year a few months prior to his passing.

Li'l Guy and Gin Gin

Piggies I love all of you, and now you have Alge to assist you as well. Love and light to all of you, and may peace be with you...

Rufie

Aloha,

Ellen and the 8 piggies and bunny

A Message From Birdie and Misses Perky and Pooky

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I am an online friend of Beverly or Alge as she was known to us at the GPDD. I will miss greatly her posts, words of encourgement and stories of her beloved guinea pigs. I had the pleasure of being a Secret Santa Pig one year at Christmas. I feel truely blessed to have been able to share a part of her life with her. I believe that she is watching over all of us from heaven now and is reunited with all the guinea pig family masters and slaves that have passed before her. She touched many of our lives with her specialness and love. You will be greatly missed our friend.

Birdie Horn

Pigture of Miss Pooky

Bethann's Message to her Mum (Alge)

beth kitzmiller

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

MOM HOW I MISS YOU. YOU MADE LIFE SO GOOD JUST SEEING YOU . I ALWAYS KNEW THINGS WHERE GOING TO BE OK AFTER I TALKED TO YOU. YOU WHERE ONE IN A MILLION. YOU TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLES LIVES THAT NO ONE CAN COUNT. AS I HAVE TALKED AND RECEIVED E-MAIL FROM SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE GPDD MOM YOU WHERE KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD. ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD AND YOU DID.YOU PROVED IT COULD BE DONE. YOU SAT AT YOUR COMPUTER AND HELPED AND SAVED MANY LITTLE PIGGIES, EVEN RESCUED A FEW YOURSELF. WE ALL HAVE A PLACE IN THIS WORLD AND YOU FOUND YOURS I JUST HOPE ONE DAY EVERYONE CAN FIND THERE PLACE IN THE WORLD AND MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU DID. YOU ARE UP IN HEAVEN WITH PAPPY, LOTTIE AND YOUR OTHER FAMILY INCLUDING YOUR LITTLE PIGGIES THAT PASSED AWAY THAT YOU LOVED SO MUCH. ONE DAY MOM WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN AND WE WILL REJOICE. MY LIFE WILL BE EMPTY WITHOUT YOU BUT I KNOW WHEN I AM DOWN I CAN TALK TO YOU AND YOU WILL LISTEN. YOUR ARE MY GUARDIAN ANGEL NOW, YOU WILL BE WATCHING ME BUT YOU WILL ALSO BE THE GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR ALL THE LITTLE PIGGIES OUT THERE AT NEED PROTECTING. I LOVE YOU MOM BETHANN

A Message From Kathy

Kathy Congi

Sunday, February 21, 2010
Please accept my sincerest condolences for Beverly or as we know her Alge of the Guinea Pig Digest. She was such a wonderful supportive person and always had such kind and supportive messages for anyone in need. She is at the Bridge now with all her loved ones now. Peace be with you Alge

A Message From Sandy and Shipwreck Sam

Sandy Oliver-Poore
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My forever love to the best friend any woman could ever have. I will miss you forever Alge, and keep you in my heart as long as it beats. Born the same month of the same year & as Gemini's always seemed to be as close as sisters. We shared a love of guinea pigs & wrote fictional stories about them in an alter life as Piggy Pirates, both of us share our love of the GPDD where I post as warmbreath

Candles from Glynis, Onyx and Velvet in Oz

This is a charcoal drawing of Duke (RIP 2008), when he was ill i received emails from Alge offering advice and sending me her encouragement, love and best wishes.

I wanted to feel as if Alge had visited my house, she did in her emails, well now the lit candle has been around our house, in this picture it's sitting on the kitchen bench with a pot plant sitting behind it.

I carefully placed the lit candle in the cage with Onyx on the left and Velvet on the right, i was very careful and the girls seemed mesmerised by the flickering flame ........ they wanted to share in the candle lighting as well in respect for their friends Captn. Jack and Barnacle Bill.

Glynis, Onyx and Velvet

remembering Alge

To Alge's family-- I am a very infrequent contributor to the GPDD, though I feel like I know everyone as I've read it daily for almost five years now. I prefer to post personally to members when I feel that I have something I want to share. When I first joined the GPDD, Alge asked about an uncommon occurrence with guinea pigs, but one that I've had experience with. We had an interesting email correspondence concerning this issue, and it was then that I began to form a picture in my mind of what Alge was like. She mentioned her daughter and grandchildren, so I imagined her as an thin elderly lady, gray-haired and spectacled. I knew that she had health issues concerning her lungs and was bedridden at times, so I suppose that contributed to my thinking she must be an elderly grandma. My husband and I loved that she called her piggies the "Jolly Rodents," and I think it was that nickname as well as her droll sense of humor that made me think she MUST be British--until I learned that she lived in Ohio. Still, I thought perhaps she was British by birth--there was something about her wit and "voice" that made me think so (perhaps she was?). Anyways, I enjoyed seeing her photo and the slideshow of her life--my imaginary Alge was so different from the real person in looks, though the warmth, compassion, intelligence, and wit that shone through her writings reflected that real person in spirit, I'm very sure. I hope that Alge's family reads this post. I've been wanting to write since I heard that she had passed on. The sadness that Alge's Digest friends are expressing is also very real--she was a friend to all and very beloved in return. She will be remembered with fondness and love. With sincerest sympathy to Alge's family, Ann and piggies Gizmo, Dart, Feather & Tessie

A Message From Jaime and Mimi

I was lucky enough to meet Bev (Alge) thru the GPDD about 8 years ago. I loved her stories, creativity, and sense of humor. Even though she was sick, she always was there to cheer me on and help me get thru my own health issues. She was always concerned about me and not herself. That's just the kind of friend she was. I will miss her, Barnacle Bill and Captain Jack. I am a better person for having known her.
~Jaime & Mimi~
~Missing Albert, Molly, Radar & Daisy~
http://s652.photobucket.com/albums/uu246/chirpy123/