Anticipation

I'll always remember walking around the lake at Twin Lakes Resort in North Carolina. It was fun.

Dad says we are leaving North Carolina soon on our way back to RedRock RV Park in Idaho for the summer. He has been talking to Mom all about it. I can't wait. I bet you thought that dogs didn't have a view of the future. We do, and we have what Dad told me was yearnings. Things that we want to happen now, but can wait for them. Actually we have no choice but to wait for them because they aren't happening now. Once they happen, we feel even better than if we hadn't yearned for them. Dad says that's the joy of anticipation. Well, then, I am in great anticipation of getting back to my summer home near the lakes and streams, the great animal smells, the sweet smells of wildflowers, the high soaring birds that keep me company during the day, the frequent day trips with Dad to photograph and all the people I know.

I'll miss my friend Annie. But I'll be back to see her.

Megan is my friend too. I'll miss her sloppy kisses!

Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed North Carolina. It was especially fun to visit my human sister, Genevieve and her new husband Ronnie. But it was even more fun to romp and play with Annie and Megan, their wonderful (bouncy) dogs. Dad and Mom were proud to see Genevieve get married, but Dad was kind of sad, losing a daughter to another man. But, he says, that is the natural way with humans. So.. he accepts it.

My human sister Genevieve married Ronnie in North Carolina while we were there. I couldn't go to the ceremony (darn!), but I was glad Genny was happy!

I'll miss North Carolina. The ducks had little babies while we were here. They were afraid of me though.

Every morning we walk around the lakes here at the Twin Lakes Resort, see the big turtles with the RVs on their back basking in the sun, hear the little dogs bark at me every time I pass, see the 9 little ducklings with their mother looking over them protectively as I sniff past them, watching the fish jump from the lake and splash loud noises, and playing with my little human friend, Owen and his friends. It's all been fun, but nothing like my summer at RedRock RV Park will be.

Here's RedRock RV Park before Spring arrives. Soon there will be flowers everywhere. See Henrys Lake in the back?

The memories of walking along Red Rock Road are still fresh in my mind and will be fresher soon.

I remember the daily walks down Red Rock road with Dad looking for Wildflowers. I remember the cows that crowd the fence along the road watching me pass like I was a human rock star. The smell of the cows and the horses are fond memories that I'm waiting to have again, and soon. Dad says we will be there in about 8 to 9 days, if the snow melts as it should.

I feel like a human Rock Star when I walk on Red Rock road and the cows come to greet me.

I remember walking to Henry's Lake and romping in the water, watching the ducks and big White Pelicans fly away from me. I even remember seeing the noses of the badgers sticking out of their holes as Dad tries to restrain me from investigating further. Badgers have very sharp claws and teeth, so Dad says it is best to stay away from them.

The sweet smell of the sagebrush and the squirrels that dart in and out of the holes under the sagebrush are all fond memories that I'll repeat soon.

I remember my favorite walk down the forest road, smelling the bears, and the deer, sniffing the wildflowers, turning over a rotting log and watching the insects scatter, drinking from the creek and being able to run free without Dad or Mom yelling at me! I'll get to do that soon again.

The forest road next to RedRock RV Park awaits my nose!

I know that we will have another month of cold weather there and maybe some snow to roll in. That feels really good on my back. I like cold weather, but this time I don't know if I'll get too cold with my haircut from surgery still leaving me pretty naked. I can always go into the warm RV with Mom and Dad.

I can't wait to get on the snow. Here we are on one of Dad's short trips to the top of Henry's Mountains.

Most of all I like the people that come to see me each day, including Gordon, the owner of the RV Park, and sometimes Karen (his human wife), Steve and Karen with their leader, Casey ( their wonderful beagle), Ron and Gloria and their dog, John, Georgiana and Arlean with all their cats (who greet me every day with an extended paw under the RV's screen door). There are also new people that come to see me each day and some bring their dogs to visit. I like meeting all the new people at RedRock RV Park. I especially like the tiny humans that visit me.

Ah, the sweet smell of the wildflowers near RedRock RV Park. I can't wait to refresh my memories.

Dad and Mom love to be there too. Dad likes the mountains, and they will be full of snow when we arrive to make them even more photogenic. Mom likes to walk to Henry's Lake and enjoy the quiet sounds of the water lapping at the shore. She likes to throw sticks for me to fetch. Dad likes to drive to Yellowstone National Park and take me. I get to watch the huge cows (Dad calls them Bison) and the huge deer (Dad calls them Elk). Sometimes we see a bear eating an Elk, or sometimes a small marmot run across the road. There's always something for me to see at Yellowstone. Sometimes he goes without me to photograph because they don't allow dogs just anywhere there, but I get to go enough times to remember the fun.

I love to roll around in the snow at RedRock RV Park in early May.

I remember the great hikes that we take along the Snake River. The smells are incredible. I smell the moose, the deer, the squirrels, the foxes, the other dogs that have been waking here before us, and so much more. I get to run down to the river and splash around whenever I want to. It's so much fun that I can't wait to be there again.

So, if I can't have it right now, I ANTICPATE and YEARN for it now and I'll know that soon, after a very long RV trip, that I have have it. I also think about all the cows and horses I can bark at (to keep them from attacking us) as we drive in the RV to get there. It's fun to be the guard for the RV. I really feel like I'm helping Dad and Mom. After all, I can't imagine what would happen if one of those cows walked in front of our RV while we were driving so fast. It might make a good meal for me, but the poor RV might get smashed!


So, if you are traveling somewhere in the United States next week, look for our big white Alfa motorhome rolling down the highway and honk! I'll bark back at you! Oh, and don't forget to come visit me at RedRock RV Park this summer. I'll be glad to visit with you and show you some of my favorite places to sniff.

Check back and I'll let you know when we get there and tell you about all the fun I'm having. I'm sure I will.

Arf,

Reggie