A walk to remember

Yesterday we ventured from our usual neighborhood-walking route and went to Freedom Park. Cheryl said she just needed a change in scenery. I think the scenery around our neighborhood is just fine, but Lexie and I went along with her.

For those of you not familiar with Freedom Park, it’s a big park beside Freedom High School. It has a one-mile track that loops around playground equipment, tennis courts, a football practice field and softball and soccer fields. When we got to the park I took one look at the sky and questioned Cheryl’s sanity. “It looks like rain. It looks like it might even storm,” I said. “Baxter, quit being such a baby and come on,” was her response.

Before we got too far on the track Cheryl had the forethought to grab two doggie doo bags. Which is a good thing, because about a quarter of the way around the track I had to take care of some business. Like the dutiful dog owner she is, Cheryl scooped it, bagged it and synched it up. “Now what do I do with this?” Cheryl asked as a nice lady walked by and commented on how pretty we dogs are. There was not a doggie doo disposal can in site. “Yuck,” Lexie said. “Glad I don’t have to carry that.” Then I had to go again. And again Cheryl had to scoop, bag and synch. We had to walk another half a mile before she could deposit my deposits properly.

The first – and what Lexie thought was going to be the only – lap around the track went pretty smooth after that, except for a slight drizzle. We saw some folks playing soccer and some playing tennis. Completing the first lap, we passed the doggie doo bags again and Cheryl again had the forethought to grab two more. “This looks familiar,” Lexie said. “Hey, isn’t that our car over there? Isn’t it time to go?” “One more lap,” Cheryl informed us. And on this lap only one doggie doo bag had to be used, prompting Cheryl to vow that once we got home we would shop online for a backpack for me so I can tote my own doo bags.

By this time everyone was getting tired and ill and the drizzle picked up. As we were taught in doggie obedience school, dogs are supposed to walk on the left side of their people. Lexie was too tired to stay in line. She kept wanting to cross behind and to the right of Cheryl and lag farther and farther behind. “We’re almost there,” we kept encouraging Lexie.

Once we finally got close to where the car was parked, Lexie said, “Is that a mirage or is that really our car?” Cheryl, the plan-ahead-person that she is, had a bowl and cold water waiting for us once we reached the car. What she didn’t plan for was Lexie being too tired to jump up in the back of the car by herself. “One, two, three, lift with your knees,” I said, cheering Cheryl on as she hoisted Lexie up. Needless to say today we didn’t go back to Freedom Park. “You’re right, Bax, the scenery around our neighborhood looks pretty good.”

So I won’t pretend that I haven’t posted in a while. No excuses. To get you caught up, here’s the reader’s digest version of our life over the past month:
* Duchess is healing. She’s off her antibiotics and down to one prednisone a day. We are keeping our paws crossed.
* Lexie and I had our annual check-ups and checked out fine. We both had lost weight. I’m down to a fit and trim 72 pounds and Lexie dropped down to 92 pounds. (You can see my bandage in the top photo where they had to take my blood.)

* Alison got dressed up and went to this formal dance (one night after throwing an anti-formal dance party.)
* The people had some family pictures made. (Can you spot Wes? He's the one in camouflage)

I’ll try not to wait another month before I post again, but I can’t make any promises.