April 26, 2011

I am quite the seasoned traveler, I am. I've flown on airplanes eight times so far. I've learned I won't get breakfast, that I'll be expected to "Hurry" one last time before we go into the airport and that people will smile at me as I wait my turn in the Security lines. I know that once we board the plane I'll have to curl into a small ball under the seat between Marianne's feet and not make cow eyes at my seat mate. I've discovered that not everyone appreciates dogs, so I do my best to be quiet and unobtrusive.

A few weeks ago we flew to Chicago to see our friends Cate and Jack. Marianne and Cate have been friends since graduate school, roughly around 210 dog years. The mind boggles!.

Anyhow, we had a great time hanging around the house and going for walks along the lake. One day we rode the L (which is a train; don't ask me why it's called the L and not the T) downtown to see the Art Museum and have lunch. Another day we went to a play (very dull from my perspective, no dogs in it) and later to an organ recital, which was OK, but I think I'm more of a Glee concert kind of dog. Cate and Jack told me I was an Excellent House Guest and a Really Good Dog. I love them.

When we got home I assumed we were not traveling again until I go to CCI college in May. Much to my surprise, I found Marianne looking at airline websites a few days ago.

"What are you doing?" I wondered. "I thought you already bought our tickets to San Diego for Turn In."

"I did," she replied shortly. "Now go find something else to do."

WELL! I was very curious, but I knew that tone of voice meant I wasn't going to get more information any time soon. I crawled into my favorite dog bed for a snooze.

Later, after my nap and dinner, I crawled into Marianne's lap with my favorite toy bear. "Now will you tell me what you were doing?" I wheedled. She laughed and said, "Yes, now that our plans are finalized I can tell you. We are going to fly to New Jersey to visit your brother Madden!"

I was speechless. Madden! My baby brother Madden, another "black fluffy" like me. Suddenly I had lots of questions. "Does he know we're coming? Are we staying at his house? I wonder how big he is? Does he still look like me?" I got so excited that I jumped off her lap, grabbed her slipper and ran around the room in circles.

Marianne watched me for a minute. "Yes, he knows we are coming. Yes, his puppy raisers Regina and Dave have graciously invited us to stay with them and they are even picking us up at the airport. You can see for yourself how big he is and if he still looks like you."

I stopped suddenly and dropped the slipper. "Hang on, you've never met Regina and Dave, have you?"

Marianne shook her head. "No, why?"

I frowned. "Well, isn't it kind of odd to go visit strangers like this? Fly to a new place to stay with people you've never met?"

"We're not strangers, Mars," Marianne exclaimed. "We're CCI family, related by dogs!"

"So what is that, sort of like dogs-in-law?" I asked.

Marianne nodded, "Yes, exactly like that. We're dogs-in-law."

"But if you've never met them, how will they know how to find us at the airport? It's been so long, Madden and I might not recognize each other," I fretted.

Marianne burst out laughing. "Mars, I don't think you need to worry. I am pretty sure that you and Madden will be the only two big black fluffy dogs in yellow capes at the Newark Airport."

Really? Huh.

At any rate, tomorrow we fly to New Jersey for several days of fun and frolic. Marianne says there will be many photos taken and we'll meet some other puppy raisers and pups and even a couple of graduate teams. I can't wait! I still wonder if I'll recognize Madden at the airport.

Chow for now!

Mars

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