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22. Thor Speaks GrootThor respectively is the blonde God of Thunder. But once in awhile, Point Break shows off how smart he really is. Reminding Rocket and Thor that he’s on the spaceship, Groot throws a comment towards Thor. To which Thor responds accurately. This blows Rocket’s mind, causing him to question Thor with, “You know how to speak Groot?” Thor replies in a nonchalant manner, stating that he learned it as part of his studies, as all Asgardians study advance and different languages.Thor could be bluffing with this statement, but thanks to Reddit user UmbrusNightshade, we can trust Thor’s comment about his schooling. Within the series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sif once stated that the Asgardians learn alien languages during their childhood years. This could have also included Thor’s time in school. He is 1500 years old after all. Thor doesn’t need an Allspeak, all he needed to do was pay attention during a few hundred years of schooling.Once Groot knows Thor understands him, there is a change in his mannerisms towards the God of Thunder (in a good way). Albeit, they are small and hard to notice, since Groot has his head stuck in the Defenders game for around 90% of the time he’s on screen.21. Post-Credit Timeline Is OffAt the start of the post-credit scene for Avengers: Infinity War, we first hear, and then see, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) driving in New York. They’re looking for Tony Stark, along with any possible sign of the other Avengers. Hill mentions to Fury that something has entered Earth’s atmosphere, heading towards Wakanda. Fury asks how big, to which Maria replies, “larger than the one in New York.”This is important because Hill is likely describing the same readout to Fury that Okoye was reporting to T’Challa and the other Avengers in Wakanda. But here’s where things get a little strange. Just a mere second after Hill makes her report to Fury, the car spinning out of control with nobody in it swerves in front of them. In Wakanda, however, an entire battle is about to take place, and Thanos isn’t on Earth yet. Either the writers spaced on their timeline facts, or this is a clue regarding the next installment of Avengers: Infinity War.Considering the time and effort the Russo brothers put into this production, along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, I’m wagering on a clue. And the answer is tied to Dr. Strange (which I mention further down the list).20. Mysterious Vanishing ArmThe ending of Avengers: Infinity War is heartbreaking to watch for die-hard comic book fans. With Peter Parker apologizing to Tony, and Rocket watching Groot disappear, there were more than a few sniffles and tears throughout the theater. But amongst all these gut-wrenching goodbyes is a baffling puzzle piece.When Bucky Barnes disappears due to the Thanos snap, his Vibranium arm vanishes with him.But his gun, which he was holding, drops to the ground. Is this a mistake, or does the White Wolf’s new prosthetic Vibranium arm play a major role in the upcoming part 2 of Infinity War? The inter-web can’t make up its mind on this matter, and to be honest, neither can I. There aren’t any plausible explanations which support why his arm would have vanished, other than it may have been too disturbing for children in the audience to watch. It may also be a conveniently placed plot hole. In the events to come, it would seem likely that Bucky will need his arm. And to support this theory is the fact that he never used it in battle. We only saw him shoot, never getting to see what Shuri incorporated into this new extension of himself.19. Mantis ShenanigansVia Screen Rant: Movie News, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailers, TV NewsOne of my favorite additions to the Guardians of the Galaxy lineup was Mantis in Vol. 2. She never fails to delight while she’s on screen, whether it be through a comedic comment or action. The Russo brothers and James Gunn elevated her character in Avengers: Infinity War through a series of facial expressions, comments, and actions which will have any GOTG fan rolling on the floor in delight. She is simply way too cute for her own good. When approaching the distress call in the film, Quill still states:“Alright, Guardians don’t forget, this might be dangerous so let’s put on our mean face.”Naturally, Mantis takes this as a literal command and does just that. But the best part is when she holds her “mean face” through the rest of the scene (until Thor lands on the windshield). Later while on the planet Knowhere; Quill, Mantis, Gamora, and Drax are quietly approaching what they think is Thanos and the Collector. Everybody is in sneak-attack mode, including Mantis. With her arms close to her chest and her back hunched slightly, Mantis tip-toes along like a cat ready to strike with her very cute finger claws. If this doesn’t make you a full-time Mantis fan, then a pulse reading needs to be performed.18. Cloaking PersonalityDr. Strange’s Cloak of Levitation has shown signs of life and personality during his standalone film. From wiping away tears to getting involved in battles, the cloak serves as a hero sidekick with the ability of flight. In Avengers: Infinity War, the Cloak of Levitation comes out of its shell even more. It acts so much like another superhero, Peter Parker tries to introduce himself to it. We first get to see Dr. Strange’s cloak in action during the New York battle, as it was almost able to save the wizard from the alien claws of Ebony Maw. This was nothing new, as audiences have seen it behave like this before.While on the spaceship, however, the Cloak of Levitation presents itself in a whole new way. Stark is scolding Peter for not returning to Earth like he wanted. As he does this, the Cloak of Levitation is standing next to Tony mimicking his movements of frustration and disappointment towards Spider-Man. It even does a movement which symbolizes an individual being shocked or saying, “whaaat?”The Cloak of Levitation lands it battle-worn moments the most during the fight scenes on Titan. Following its master's instructions, the cloak wraps itself around the Infinity Gauntlet, preventing Thanos from making a fist and using the Infinity Stones against him. It even continues to put up a fight after being ripped by the purple titan.17. Damaged Infinity GauntletFollowing Thanos’ infamous snap and his field trip into the Soul Stone realm with a younger Gamora, a critical plot point is revealed. Due to the traumatic events about to take place and quick camera angles, it's easy to miss a severely damaged Infinity Gauntlet. The screenshot moves quickly, giving audiences only a few seconds to view the damage it has taken. Here’s what I saw:The Infinity Gauntlet is toast. Several spots were bubbling metal, much like when Thor was in Nidavellir creating Stormbreaker. Other spots showed corrosion and had turned from gold to black and grey. There were even fragments of the Gauntlet starting to flake off before Thanos time warps himself out of Wakanda. The most interesting aspect of this scene revolves around the Infinity Stones still being in the Gauntlet.Due to Thanos being able to escape Wakanda, we know the Infinity Gauntlet may still be working, despite all the damage it took. Or, Thanos could have just tapped into the Space Stone, allowing him to warp out. Either way, he still has the Infinity Stones. In Thanos’ final scene of him watching a sunset, the Gauntlet is nowhere to be found. It is likely with him on this mysterious planet where he’s chosen to take a rest, but in the MCU, nothing is ever a guarantee.16. Rocket Rabbit: Ship Or Callback?Rocket isn’t one to take lip service from anyone. As far as squirrels go, he’s clearly the spunkiest in the galaxy. He especially doesn’t do well with being called names, as shown in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 when Quill lashes out a host of names including Trash panda, Triangle-faced monkey, Dumb puppy, and Woodland creature. And for the record, Rocket still hasn’t forgiven Star-Lord for it. Along comes, Thor in Avengers: Infinity War and suddenly Rocket doesn’t mind being called something else.Thor refers to Rocket as Rabbit four times throughout the movie.I’ve got two theories about this name mishap. Either Rocket is mysteriously being shipped by the Russo brothers with Thor (anything is possible), or it was a callback to his appearances in Marvel Comics. Ironically, in the comics Rocket has a love interest named Lylla (his soul mate who’s an Otter). She was first introduced in Incredible Hulk #271. The Rabbit reference from Thor likely is a callback to sworn enemy Blackjack O’Hare. Who just happens to be a rabbit Rocket teamed up with in the comic Rocket Raccoon #2, against Red Breath. While the comic references make the most sense, I am still secretly hoping for a little crush action going on between Rocket and Thor.15. Many Facial Expressions Of ThanosThere’s more than a few articles floating around the inter-web regarding the over usage of CGI in Avengers: Infinity War. And while I might agree with a couple of the points mentioned (CGI is always a difficult beast to manage), most of the comments are worth about a gram of dung. The special effects applied to Thanos’ facial reactions were priceless throughout the entire film. Give those hard-working individuals a raise Disney, they deserve every penny of it.Whether Thanos is appreciating a good fight, fighting back tears regarding Gamora, or looking exceptionally sly, his face is a treat to behold — once you get past the scars and the purple Grimace reference tossed out by Star-Lord.Critics are claiming Thanos is the greatest MCU villain in the franchise’s history. What most have overlooked, however, is that it wasn’t the depth of his story that hooked audiences. It’s the humanistic characteristics shown through his expressions.Due to the abundance of various Thanos expressions throughout Infinity War, I’ve taken the liberty of naming them with song titles like I Can Hold your Hand, I’m going to Destroy you, Who Dookied in my Cheerios, Aren’t you Smart, I’m an Evil Genius, My Moral Compass, and my favorite — Who you Looking at Punk?14. Original Avengers Escape GauntletThere are a few key points to discuss concerning the ending of Avengers: Infinity War. With the snap of his fingers, Thanos initiated what everyone feared would happen. The random elimination of half the universe. But was it really that random, or are we just supposed to believe it was? Following the snap, newcomers to the MCU like Spider-Man and Black Panther fade into dust, along Star-Lord, Drax, Mantis, Bucky, Groot, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Dr. Strange, and Scarlet Witch.The remaining heroes just happen to be the original Avengers featured in their first film, along with a few extras. These include Thor, Black Widow, Hulk, Iron Man, and supposedly Hawkeye too. Rocket also joins the group, seemingly taking Hawkeye’s place. This isn’t simply by chance. The Russo brothers are clearly setting up a storyline for the sequel which will involve all the old timers making things right and avenging their dusted companions. But will all the original Avengers survive part two of Infinity War? Only time will tell, and sadly, we have a whole year to wait for the results. Joining these oldies hopefully in part two will be Captain Marvel (as suggested in the post-credit scene) and possibly Ant-Man and the Wasp. Maybe, we’ll even get a look at Adam Warlock too.13. Going Foodie With WongWong, master of the Mystic Arts of Kamar-Taj (who goes by the alias Beyoncé) was one of the break-out MCU stars in Dr. Strange. With his stoic personality, Wong provides humor and balance when paired with Dr. Stephen Strange. Sadly, he didn’t wield the Wand of Watoomb like I wanted him to in the New York battle during Infinity War. But he still provided a few memorable moments regarding ice cream flavors and not having any money to his name.Tony Stark makes a reference towards quitting dairy when, “Ben & Jerry's named a flavor,” after him. Dr. Strange names the aforementioned ice cream, “Stark Raving Hazelnuts.” Tony then states, “it’s not bad,” to which Strange replies, “bit chalky.” Then Wong enters the conversation with the second-best line of the film.“Hunka-Hunka Hulk is our favorite.”Before Hulk gets transported into the Sanctum Sanctorum’s basement, Strange and Wong are having a conversation about Wong not having any money. Alarms are going off around the galaxy and Wong is pestering Dr. Strange about getting something to eat while he’s in New York. Being a master of the mystic arts, however, apparently requires one to always be broke. Wong also gets invited to Starks’s wedding after saving his hide during the battle with Cull Obsidian (who mysteriously gets his arm back later in the film).12. Stan Lee Is A Watcher InformantIf Guardians of the Galaxy II was a film you skipped before watching Avengers: Infinity War, then now’s the time to take a break and watch it. Not only is it the funniest of all the MCU movies, but it gave immense depth to the cameos given by legend Comic book artist and writer Stan Lee. This has been a hard year for Lee, with the passing of his wife and allegations of domestic abuse against him by his own daughter. Not to mention the daily struggle of getting older. But seeing him in Infinity War brought instant smiles to everyone in the theater (along with more than a few cheers).Guardians of the Galaxy II confirmed Stan Lee’s cameos are more than a tribute towards him. He’s an actual character. In the Marvel Comics, there’s a group known as the cosmic Watchers. They basically spy on Earths superheroes, watching events in the universe unfold. Stan Lee works for the Watchers, making all his cameos an important part of the MCU. Of which there are 45 of them, thanks to an article recently published by Insider. Remember this the next time you see Stan Lee hanging out in the MCU because he’s watching you.11. 14,000,605 Possible TimelinesI said there was a Dr. Strange item you might have missed, and I didn’t make you wait until the number one entry to get to it. Earlier I mentioned the post-credit scene in Avengers: Infinity War had a timeline hole, and I think it’s because Dr. Strange did something to the Time Stone prior to giving it to Thanos. While Star-Lord and Iron Man are swaggering their egos at one another, Dr. Strange takes 14 million plus trips into the future. For the record, neither Phish nor the Grateful Dead can compete against Strange’s trippy time-travel experience.Once coming out of his travels, he tells Stark and company there was only one scenario in which they were victorious. Fast-forward to Dr. Strange stopping Thanos from permanently taking Iron Man out by offering him the Time Stone. Many believe this is because Tony is part of that one timeline which needs to happen. I agree with this, but there’s more. The look Strange has on his face as Thanos grabs the Time Stone is one of satisfaction, along with a crooked smile of “I’ve got you.” He then tells Stark they’re, “in the endgame now.” Strange might have messed with the Stone, causing some form of ripple effect. This would explain why the events of the post-credit scene happened during a different period of time, then the events in Wakanda.10. Ocular And Prosthetic Limb CallbackTo say that Rocket Racoon is obsessed with eyes and limbs would be a hard understatement. Audiences were first introduced to this disturbing fascination with Rocket during the first Guardians of the Galaxy installment. In the plan associated with breaking out of the prison, Rocket tells Quill he needs one of the prisoner’s prosthetic limbs. Then in Guardians of the Galaxy II, Groot brings Rocket someone’s artificial eyeball instead of Yondu’s Yaka Arrow Controller. In addition, Rocket keeps trying to wink through the movie (another eye reference), which he fails at miserably.In Avengers: Infinity War, the Russo brothers called back to these events by having Rocket present Thor one of his many ocular pieces he’s acquired over time. It wasn’t clearly stated in the film, but it was implied that the eye Rocket gave Thor had to be smuggled out in a body part where the sun never shines. Hence why Thor makes the comment that everything is black when he first attaches the eye. Ironically, this is not the same artificial eye from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. But he’s not done yet. In Wakanda, Rocket finds time to try and bargain with Bucky (White Wolf) over his prosthetic arm. When denied, he vows under his breath, “I’ll get that arm.”9. Infinity Stone UsageFor most of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos primarily uses the Power Stone, followed closely by the Space Stone. This has caused some heated debates on the inter-web, with fans claiming Thanos never used the Soul Stone except when performing his devastating snap of the fingers. But this isn’t true. He might not have used it as much as the other Infinity Stones, but there is clear evidence supporting its use.Thanos uses the Soul Stone separately from the other Stones, and both incidents occur during the battle on Titan.The first time we see Thanos use the Soul Stone is when he’s talking to Iron Man, mentioning he’s aware of who Tony is. Thanos may have heard of Iron Man before, but upon being able to see into his soul, he finds a bond between him and Stark. As both are trying to make the galaxy a better place in their own way. The second time Thanos uses the Soul Stone is in determining which Dr. Strange is the real one when the wizard uses his magic to create multiple clones of himself. Lastly, we see the Soul Stone being used on Thanos himself after the snap. He encounters a young Gamora and must answer her regarding what this journey has cost him.8. Teenage AttitudeThe first time I saw teenage Groot during the post-credit scene in Guardians of the Galaxy II, I wasn’t completely sold. Mostly because I had fallen hard for little Groot. Don’t judge me please, I apparently have a weak spot for adorable trees. Avengers: Infinity War, however, totally changed my perspective on teenage Groot. From constantly playing Defender through most of the film and complaining about showing his twig while going to the bathroom, to his teenager attitude, Groot was completely on point. Thank you, James Gunn.Groot says something snarky on the Milano after being told to put away his game, arousing a reaction from the rest of the group due to his choice language. Quill tells Groot, “You got some acorns on you, kid.” While Rocket chimes in with, “Ever since you got a little sap, you’re a total [explicit]-hole. Keep it up and I’m going to smash that thing to pieces.”In true teenager fashion, Groot provides more than just attitude. When called to step up to the plate, he doesn’t hesitate. Giving part of himself towards Thor’s new hammer/axe Stormchaser, in the form of a handle. The same held true in Wakanda, with Groot laying into the baddies with all he’s got. Of all the heroes’ who faded to dust, Groot hit me the hardest. Baby Groot may have provided the cuteness, but teenage Groot brings sapling hormones, attitude, and mad fighting skills. Take all my money, Marvel.7. Losing Super-BotsThe Hulk may have been absent for most Avengers: Infinity War, but Banner helped make up for it with his unique charm. Upon returning to Earth and transforming back in Banner, Bruce proceeds to get Stark, Dr. Strange, and Wong up to speed on current events. During the process, Tony mentions how he may have lost track of where Vision was.“Tony! You lost another super-bot?”This joke is a callback to Avengers: Age of Ultron when Stark and Banner would create Ultron, who rebels and goes on a rampage trying to destroy the Earth. Stark losing track of Vision is likely Banners worst nightmare come true. Next to Thanos coming to Earth, of course. What makes this line even more hilarious, is we find out Captain America and Black Widow have also been keeping tabs on Vision. Cap manages to locate Vision with ease, something Tony obviously couldn’t have pulled off.But the universe isn’t done with Iron Man, yet. As karma would have it, Tony is the one who later becomes lost. Stranded on Titan, half a galaxy away from his home planet. And it’s up to Cap, Banner, Black Widow, Rocket, and Thor to get him back and make things right once more.6. Unresolved IssuesLeading into Infinity War, several characters had side arcs going which should have met some kind of resolution. There’s the love interest tension between Banner and Natasha leftover from Avengers: Age of Ultron, along with unresolved feelings between Rocket Racoon and Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. Other smaller arcs existed too, like who made Bucky’s arm, the status on Rhodey’s legs, and wherein the world Hawkeye is (not that anyone really cares). Of all these unanswered plot points, it was the relationship between Rocket and Quill which caught me most off guard.Banner and Natasha were never good at communicating in the first place, so when they only say one another’s name before moving onto business as usual, — it’s not the end of the world. But Rocket and Quill not working out their issues may have played a major role towards the events of Infinity War. If Gamora hadn’t gone to Knowhere, Thanos wouldn’t have gotten his purple paws on the Soul Stone prior to fighting the other Guardians and Avengers on Titan. But since Rocket and Quill were still at one another’s throats, letting their egos get ahead of them — the team divides, rather than staying together like they should.5. Really Old MoviesBesides Groot and Mantis, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is my “other” favorite new MCU character. His one-liners are spot on every time and his relationship towards Stark is moving and interesting. From the moment Spider-Man shows up in the New York battle to the tragic sight of him slipping away to dust in Tony’s arms, Parker entertains and captivates.It starts to get interesting when Spider-Man gets his new suit, stating, “Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here.” Followed shortly after by, “I should have stayed on the bus,” as the spaceship slowly begins to exit the Earth’s atmosphere. While on the ship, Parker and Stark need a plan to save the wizard to which Spidey asks, “Have you ever seen this really old movie, Aliens?”The best Spider-Man quote out of the entire Avengers: Infinity War movie comes from an old 80s classic called Footloose. Drax brings up the dance-off from the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, to which Peter responds, “Like in Footloose, the movie?” Quill chimes in with, “Exactly like Footloose. Is it still the greatest movie in history?” But Spider-Man isn’t having any of that nonsense. Peter with a completely straight face looks at Quill and says, “It never was.”4. Cauldron Of The CosmosTony Stark is enjoying a morning run with Pepper while dropping Easter Eggs about their future child named Morgan. In a typical Iron Man kind of way, he tells Pepper he had a dream about her being pregnant (which she likely is, even though she says she’s not). Following this major tidbit drop, Dr. Strange appears out of thin air demanding help saving the world. In a short series of moments, Stark finds himself sitting in the Sanctum Sanctorum, listening to Banner’s account of Thanos. Slowly the weight of the events starts eating away at Stark, as he realizes Thanos is the big bad guy he’s been preparing for and sweating about for the last six years.Tony stands up and pretends to be stretching since he just got done jogging with Pepper about five minutes prior. It looks innocent enough, but Dr. Strange will have none of Iron Man’s antics. The vase looking object Tony is using to support himself while stretching is none other than the Cauldron of the Cosmos.The Cauldron has appeared in several comic books prior to Avengers: Infinity War. These comic books are Man-Thing Vol 1 & 3, Thing, and Marvel Team-up Vol 1. The Cauldron of the Cosmos is an artifact, much like the Cloak of Levitation. It allows Dr. Strange to view time, space, and various alternate realities.3. A Fitting Alien EndEbony Maw is the only Black Order individual who can put up a fight against the Avengers. Not only is he the strongest of the group, but he’s the most annoying of them too. Having a thing for long and boring monologues, he seemingly enjoys talking individuals into their next life more than he does through a good battle. Don’t let his dreary speeches fool you, though, he was able to overcome Dr. Strange one on one and held his own whilst Iron Man was in the mix as well.Thanks to Peter Parker being a pop culture nerd, he quickly realized they were physically outmatched and needed another strategy to save the wizard. Hence, the Aliens reference. In the classic Sci-Fi film, the lead character Ripley opens an airlock on the ship. This causes everything on the ship to be sucked immediately out into space, including the nasty alien queen.In the film Aliens, the lead character, Ripley, manages to open an airlock on the spaceship, sucking everything out of the room. Naturally, this also scoops up the alien queen and chucks her into space as well, ending her reign of terror. The dynamic duo of Iron Man and Spider-Man repeat this exact scene from Aliens. Stark acts as the distraction, blowing a hole in the side of Maw’s ship. This sucks Ebony Maw into space while Spider-man grabs Dr. Strange before he gets sucked out too.2. Unlock 17ASeveral amazing things happen to Spider-Man during Avengers: Infinity War. For the first time on screen, we got to see his Spidey senses kick in as the hairs on his arm stood straight up with the arrival of Ebony Maw’s ship. Whilst on said ship, Spider-Man also has another Spidey sense episode when he’s trying to tell Dr. Strange and Iron Man that they’re not alone on Titan. Albeit, he does this in a poorly and childlike way while droning on about possibly being turned into an alien egg.Spider-Man also gets his new Iron Spider suit, made specifically for him by Stark. Marvel fans have been chomping at the bit, hoping the suit would have many of the same bells and whistles featured in the comics, and the Russo brothers certainly delivered. My favorite part of the suit is the four mechanical arms which extend out from the back of the suit. I nearly jumped out of my seat the first time they appeared during the movie.Lastly, Peter Parker is officially dubbed by Tony Stark as an Avenger. Playing off events in the comics, Tony taps each of Peters shoulders like a King would while knighting one of his servants. In the Marvel comic lore, Iron Man goes back in time and witnesses King Arthur performing such a ritual, which is why he seemingly adopts it when inducting Spider-Man into the Avengers.1. Hitchhiker's Guide To The GalaxyTony Stark and Nebula don’t know one another, but they’re about to spend more time together than either of them anticipated or would want to. In the final moments on Titan, after the heartbreaking and tear-jerking goodbye from Peter Parker, we are shown Iron Man and Nebula are the only surviving heroes left on Titan. Thanos’ infamous snap not only removed many of our favorite MCU characters but quite possibly Stark and Nebula’s ride off Titan. Which could spell even worse news for the surviving Avengers on Earth.Nebula and Iron Man are stuck on Titan without a ride.It is slightly plausible that either Nebula’s or Star-Lord’s ship (Milano) survived the falling moon on Titan, but I seriously doubt it. Either they would have to be super lucky, or one of those ships is strong enough to endure comets being flung at it. This means that either Stark and Nebula will stay on Titan or they’ll hitchhike a ride back to Earth. Good thing Iron Man is up to date on his pop culture references, because they’re going to come in handy when acquiring a ride in space. Maybe Stark secretly built a spaceship along with his numerous other toys and he’s got a beacon locked on to himself right now.

Not one little bit. Pippa married James Matthews a few years ago in a beautiful ceremony, and they have a lovely one year old son. The two sisters are very close and seem like best friends. Pippa was nothing but supportive to Catherine while her older sister dated the handsome Prince William.I think Pippa saw all Catherine had to deal with due to dating the heir to the Throne (after Prince Charles, of course), and she thought “no thanks”. Catherine loves Prince William and I just read the other day that one of the reasons Catherine waited for William to marry her, was she thought no other woman would love him as much as she did.This is meant to be taken in a sweet manner. I think Catherine wasn’t infatuated any longer, she was in love with William, warts and all. Catherine would know that many ladies would want to be with him for the wrong reasons; the fame, the wealth, the privilege, having your picture being taken often etc. Pippa watched all that and went her own way in the world.Pippa Middleton married the incredibly wealthy, like you cannot imagine how much money his family has it’s that crazy, James Matthews. They had a beautiful wedding in May 2017. James is the chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management Group and he’s had that position for over ten years. It is thought that James is worth over two billion pounds. That makes Pippa Matthews a very wealthy woman.James’ dad is in the hotel business, as in building and owning them. He owns Eden Rock Hotel in St. Barths, and it is a fabulously luxurious hotel. Their hotels are very nice, at the top of the best resorts. And Pippa’s father-in-law is Laird of Glen Affric, which is a 10,000 acre estate in Scotland. If the elder Matthews son inherits this, Pippa could be given the courtesy title of Lady one day.So Pippa has a lovely life in London with her husband. They want for nothing financially, and Pippa doesn’t work the way Catherine does. Pippa can be a stay-at-home mum while her sister oversees her patronages, takes royal tours and attends many meeting and the occasional state dinner, where tiaras are brought out and the women wear their rubies, diamonds and emeralds.Pippa can have a “normal” life. Is she chooses to stay at home all day in sweats and a tee, so be it. Pippa isn’t dusting the furniture or scrubbing bath tubs. No, the help does that, of course. And Pippa still enjoys attending Wimbledon, because the Middleton family all play tennis. Catherine is quite good at it. I’m not sure about Pippa, but she embraces sports of all kinds.I’d much rather be Pippa. Yes, of course her sister will one day be a Queen Consort, God willing, and while that’s all nice and good, the best life is a normal life, in my opinion. I don’t think Pippa would trade with her sister. She has a lovely life, and one thing the Middleton family does well is support each other. Pippa likes her life, Catherine is happy with hers, and James Middleton has a successful business of his own and has an upcoming wedding to a beautiful French woman.

Not a doubt in my mind. Even though there is a part of me that is sad that I won’t get to interact with the dogs that I see at Midlands Humane Society once they find their “furevers,” my favorite part of being a volunteer is seeing the dogs get adopted. At least 9 in 10 times, I can see how happy and excited they are in the photos taken of them. The before rescue and after rescue photos are obvious-and they are the most rewarding part of volunteering for me that I can possibly think of. They know. Even when I see a slip of paper on their cage putting us all on notice that they are about to go home and tell them that they are going to go to their “furever” between soft pats and strokes on their backsides, they know.This is Gizmo, a chow chow mix. Not more than a few minutes after arriving home. After being returned once and having a stay for close to seven months in the shelter, he knew.Little Lola, a 12-year old terrier who had no idea why she ever went into the shelter when her old owner could no longer care for her. She DEFINITELY knew. This smile was the only one we ever saw from her.Baloo, a pit mix. He always had a playful streak to him, but that smile says it all. He knew.Tori (now Faye), who, outside of my beloved and dear Buddy, is the sweetest and smartest black lab mix I have ever met-with her family for a Christmas photo. She had that same smile etched across her face when she was a puppy going home. She knew.Snoop, another pittie, knew too.So did Rigby. So much so that he had to jump into the toy box to show his excitement before he left the shelter, family that he had paw-picked right behind him when he made like Elvis and left the building.No way you’re going to tell me that they don’t know when I get a front row seat to moments like these. These moments are why I do what I do as a volunteer. The look on these dogs’ faces when they choose their human and get chosen back is precious and priceless.UPDATE: I can’t resist putting this one in. This pretty girl, a Shepard/Husky mix, came to us in October and was in the back for a solid 2 months getting trained by staff. She actually bit two staffers in the face when they were feeding her (thank God they didn’t put her down after that, realizing that she was just scared and slow to adjust-as it turns out, she didn’t like people kneeling down because she felt her space was getting invaded), and really only took to liking just one of them-the lead dog handler and the woman who trained me when I first started volunteering. Because of her history, she was a staff-only dog, so I regrettably never got to walk her, although I DID get to interact with her during play groups and while I was walking past her cage.I won’t forget when she first showed up on the adoption floor. The first Saturday after she was put there (in late December or early January), I saw her and was instantly smitten. She looked up at me with those hypnotizing eyes, and I couldn’t help but bond with her right then and there. I literally stepped back and audibly gasped. “Wow! What’s your name sweetheart?” I looked at the the paperwork on her cage. Eden was her name-a fittingly beautiful name for a beautiful dog. She immediately pressed herself right against the cage, which, as I’d learned, was a dog’s way of asking to be pet or to have their necks scruffed. She gave a soft whisper of a “woof,” imploring me to pet her. I saw the sign on her cage that said she should not have anyone reaching in to give her treats or pet her. In a crestfallen voice, I said, “Sorry girl. You’re beautiful, but according to this sign, I’m not allowed to pet you through your cage.” “Woof, woof,” she whispered through the cage again. I smiled down at her, and teased. “Oooohhhh, I see how it is! Trying to get me in trouble, aren’t you?” I couldn’t resist, and gave her a quick scruff of the neck. “Woof, woof!” She asked for more, a little louder this time. “I have to go, sweet girl. Other dogs to work with, even though I’d love to spend the rest of the day with you.” She gave a little louder and more demanding, “Woof, woof!” I gave her another scruff of the neck and a few pats on her backside. She seemed content at that point. I ended up being the only volunteer she would bond with in that fashion during her time in the shelter. Myself and the lead dog handler were the only people in the shelter that she ever really took a shine to.She got adopted out in the middle of January but was returned only a day or two later. Even though the staff at the shelter told the couple, especially given her selectivity when it came to who she did and did not like, that new people should not be introduced to her for at least two weeks after her adoption, one of the couple invited their parents over the night she came home, and she snapped at the parents. I was angered when I heard this, but I was not going to rest until she found a good home. I started to tirelessly campaign for her on Facebook. As it turns out, she got adopted about a week after our shelter was shut down and made appointment only after the COVID-19 outbreak (and about a month or so after her return to the shelter), so I wasn’t able to see her go home. The young lady who adopted her brought her by for training a week later, though, and our lead dog handler posted these photos on the shelter’s Facebook page. When I saw these photos and how well-adjusted and happy Eden was, I literally cried tears of joy.I know that we shouldn’t play favorites at the shelter, but sometimes, it’s totally unavoidable. Eden was definitely one of my favorites because of how I was one of the few people she chose to warm up to and bond with. What made me even happier was finding out that her owner had another dog for her to play with. Eden LOVED play groups, and I enjoyed watching her engage with other dogs. It gave me a glimpse into her more playful and sneaky side (her favorite thing to do with dogs she particularly liked was to sneak up on them and give them a playful nip in the rear end). I think she preferred the company of other dogs to people (much like me), which is something I could associate with and something that I believe she picked up on with me straight away. I’ll never forget Eden, or that bond that we shared right from the moment we first saw each other. Even though I am happy that Eden found the right home for herself, I still miss her terribly. But she deserved the forever that she found, and I will always be grateful to her owner for giving it to her.UPDATE: They say that you never forget your first, and whoever coined that phrase was correct, especially in this instance. This handsome devil is Owen, a Great Pyrenees/Saint Bernard mix. Owen was the first dog I trained with when learning how to maximize walk time with the dogs at Midlands, about two years ago. His parents just posted a photo of him on Facebook enjoying life at home a few days ago.While Owen was a very even-keeled, laid back dog at the shelter and didn’t seem to let much bother him, I look at that photo with a great deal of joy, seeing him living his own life of luxury with that look of total contentment etched across his face while lying on that leather couch. I never saw anything even remotely similar to that look in his time at the shelter, even though he got along with pretty much everyone-dog and human alike-during his time there.He was also a unique personality. I took to calling him Don Juan de Owen, because as it turns out, he was a shameless and incorrigible flirt! It didn’t matter if it was a female dog or a woman out for a morning jog. Ol’ Don Juan de Owen didn’t discriminate!I’ll never forget what happened after I got done with his second walk. After I put him back in his kennel, I took out the next dog to walk; a gorgeous Husky named Prudence. While I finished leashing her up before her walk, Owen literally stuck his nose through the cage and goosed her! What’s even funnier is that Prudence didn’t seem to mind! She just swung her head back, gave him a big grin, and then walked with me out the door for her walk with that same doggie grin etched across her face! Owen and Prudence continued to have their little dalliances at the cages when one of them was getting walked and the other was kenneled until Owen was adopted out about three weeks later. Prudence got adopted out about a week after that.On our subsequent walks, Owen flirted with no fewer than three women out for their morning jog, and five other female dogs-three of them fellow shelter transients and two others that were out for their own morning jaunts with their humans. He didn’t goose them per se, but he did start panting heavily and took to making a leisurely jaunt a full-blown gallup in pursuit of the objects of his affection, with me in tow! I hope he’s still allowed to flirt in his forever home-and something tells me that given that shamelessly relaxed smile on his face, he’s probably finding a way to get around when he can as only he could. :-)UPDATE: This lab/pit/bulldog mix, Sparky, was only in the shelter for a few days before he got adopted, and I’m not surprised. Affable, handsome, and fearless with both other dogs and humans, he loved being doted on by staff, volunteers, and other dogs during play groups. Get a load of this ear-to-ear grin when he was adopted about two weeks ago! The poster boy for the happiest doggo to go home ever!UPDATE: I have another one from the beginning of the month. This sweet cocker spaniel, Hershey, is looking on is new dad with the most adoring and loving face I’ve ever seen. He DEFINITELY knew.