Death and Life

A week and a half ago our elderly neighbor passed away. He wasn’t a good man as far as people go and he was especially negligent when it came to his elderly wife. Of course we went to the funeral to show our love for the widow and her daughter. This was the first funeral we had been to in many years.

Last night we learned that one of our oldest and dearest friends had passed away. This man was Mr. Pop’s mentor and the best man at our wedding. He was like a father to Mr. Pop and a grand friend to both of us.

It seemed the neighbor’s death was waning and then we hear our friend had died. The neighbor and the friend could not have been more different in every way. We felt so sad last night and just sort of down in so many ways.

Then we awoke this morning to news of the miners’ rescue and somehow that elation is sneaking into us and shielding us from the recent personal news that has weighed us down.

Martini Goes to the Green Market

Saturday we took Martini in his carriage to the local outdoor green market. As usual he was as good as gold and behaved like a canine gentleman. He was also a smile magnet. Each person who focused on him inside his little carriage immediately smiled and the conversation would ensue. They would ask his name and coo to him as he sat calmly inside.

Lots of people bring their small dogs to the market but most are just on a leash and lost among the people and the feet of those people. Had I been a vendor of the dog carriages I could have sold at least two on the spot.

We came home with an another orchid plant, some baked goods and a little pumpkin that is dedicated to Martini’s first market trip. As the saying goes, a good time was had by all.

Candidates from where?

When I look at some of the Republican candidates and even most of them, I have to ask myself, where did these people come from and what the hell will happen to this country if more than a couple of them win? Seriously? When a candidate opens a campaign commercial by telling us, “I am not a witch”, that says so much about the political atmosphere of our country and none of it is good.

Martini

He’s never shaken or stirred too much about anything…..except treats and toys.

Little Charmer

While we were traveling we met a retired couple from the UK. The lady was attacked by a dog when she was a little girl and to this day is very fearful of all dogs. When she met Martini he was in his carriage and he and I were sitting on the deck at the marina. She kept looking at Martini and smiling at him, then at one point she just couldn’t help herself as she walked over and began petting him. Is he a charmer or what?

Missing my Playmate Today

Martini is at the groomer’s this morning and he was long overdue for a shampoo due to his traveling schedule this month. I have both his beds washed and dry and waiting for him. So he will return this afternoon to the luxury of cleanliness all around.

I love that he’ll come home all clean and pretty but I have to admit, I miss my little playmate this morning. The house seems so incredibly empty when that small creature is not here. He may be small but his personality can fill up a very large space.

Home Again, Home Again

Island Dog and his folks are home again and glad to be here. Traveling almost half a month was fun but it’s also fun to be relaxed at home for a while. It’s amazing how nice it is to be away and divorced from the everyday chit chat of politics.

I think Martini is the happiest of the three of us to be back home. Back home where all his toys live, where he is familiar with the outside bathroom facilities and back home where he can crawl in his bed to fall asleep without the fear of someone leaving him. When we brought him in the house last Friday he went bananas running from room to room and wagging his little tail so much you would swear it would fly off. He was one happy little pooch.

No matter if you are a dog or a human, there really is no place like home.