Below the Georgia Pines: The Story of Frank and Blade

Frank Douse, Jr. is a native son of Georgia, with deep local roots that stretch the state’s western border, from Egypt — a town named for the fertile soil that bore corn crops, to Springfield — the county seat of Effingham County with a population of 3,000, where he graduated high school in 1965, 15 minutes from the edge of South Carolina’s southwestern boundary.

After graduation, Frank moved away to Morganfield, about as northwest as you can go in Kentucky before eventually returning to The Peach State to settle in Savannah in the heart of a community known for its culinary traditions, architectural history, marshes and at times, sweltering sun.

Frank eventually met a girl, married at the age of 25, and started a family despite his mom’s insistence he was rushing his nuptials, as mothers do when young love blooms. It’s a memory he vividly recalls now, a half-century later.

He’s a proud father of four (two girls and two boys) and has lived a long, rich life in the land of rural landscapes and soaring pine trees.

Frank is a treasure and a talkative soul by his own admission, who doesn’t take for granted the wisdom he’s been gifted by time, cherishing every opportunity to impart it to young people, including his own children.

His message to anyone searching for their purpose and a means to “make something out of their lives”: “Get out there, go to school, graduate from high school, go to college if you want to and learn as much as you can.”

Even at an advanced age, Frank is learning lessons, including the importance of accepting others’ guidance and trusting their genuine kindness, a vital acknowledgment when we no longer have the capacity to help ourselves in all the ways we need to — it’s the definition of community.

Now in the twilight of his life, he’s learning how to navigate a new world of getting older and mundane tasks becoming extraordinary challenges — challenges seniors don’t have to face alone thanks to Meals on Wheels and its vast network.

“It [Meals on Wheels’ support] meant a great deal to me after many surgeries on my back,” Frank says of the organization’s generosity. The surgeries limited his mobility and forced him to grapple with the deterioration of his self-reliance.

“It was rough trying to cook and keep house.”

It got so bad for Frank, he wasn’t sure where to turn. That’s when a friend suggested he call his local Meals on Wheels provider, Senior Citizens, Inc. That was five years ago — an answer to his many prayers.

Now — twice a week — he receives that faithful knock at the door with nutritious meals and a friendly hello.

The meals and human connection are a lifeline to Frank and have enabled him to more easily plan meals, maintain his independence and make new friends despite his limited mobility.

Frank + Blade: Senior and Pet Companionship

Few bonds are as strong as those between a loving pet and its doting owner. Frank has been granted the gift of sharing the last 12 or so years of his life with his favorite furry companion, Blade, a boxer mix.

Frank met his four-legged friend while visiting a friend who was giving away a litter of puppies. Blade, the only boy among the bunch, quickly found himself at Frank’s feet.

Frank recalls his lovable eyes “just ripped my heart out.”

Soon, a mob of pups rushed over, nearly knocking Blade to the ground. Blade disappeared in the cuddly chaos but returned later after the frenzy dissipated — again at his feet.

As fate would have it, the puppy was promised to someone else, but Frank was insistent. It was love at first (and second) sight and he wasn’t leaving without him.

Once the adoption was official, they set out on their way.

“It was the wintertime. I [tucked] him in my jacket pocket [to keep him warm], we got in the car, and I brought him home,” Frank fondly recalls.

They’ve been inseparable ever since.

“That little fella’, I put him down on the floor, and he followed me everywhere like he does now.”

For the duo, Meals on Wheels delivers more than meals; they provide a unique helping hand to two lifelong friends — essential food for pet and owner that ensure they stay strong, healthy, nourished and energized for playtime.

The meals for Blade are the result of a special partnership between PetSmart Charities and Meals on Wheels America focused on keeping seniors and their pet companions together, healthy and happy.

Frank shares that the collaboration also provides toys, dog bones and more for Blade — welcome treats for his buddy who enthusiastically barks whenever they arrive.