April 8, 2011

White Dog, the rest of The White Dog Army, and Michael gathered around for a family meeting. Steve and I announced to the nervously awaiting group that we were taking a road trip this weekend, leaving early tomorrow morning...the first overnight ever with all of us!

"What does that mean," asked Puff timidly. "You are not getting rid of any of us are you?" Steve scooped her up to caress her, "Littlest One, you are part of family forever more, no one is EVER going to get rid of you. This is a fun adventure."

White Dog was already rooting in the closet looking for her luggage. She has travelled extensively and loves Road Trips. Nuka, seeing her sister starting to pack, immediately demanded we help her choose a wardrobe to bring along...even though she had no idea what a Road Trip entailed. (Our last family Road Trip was when we went to Dallas to pick up Nuka from her adoption transport last November and Puff had not joined us yet).

Quinn, who is not a fan of hotels with their strange smells and noises (and lack of doggie door), was relieved to hear that we had rented a vacation house for the night that had a yard. His next concern, seconded by AWD and SAWD, was about the availability of food. "Really, White Ones," I said. "Do you think we would not provide food, yes, and treats even, on the Road?" A sigh of relief rippled through WDA.

"Doesn't anybody want to know where we are going?" I asked as Michael started to head back to his teen cave and the pups scattered. Everyone stopped and turned around.

Daisy Mae, the White Dog of Love (at least to Quinn), and her family adopted a huge macaw from a friend moving to Central America. Her mom came last weekend to get Ta-Ne (the bird)but its HUGE cage could not fit in her car. So this weekend we are strapping the 4'x6' panels on Pumpkin's roof and taking a drive down to Las Cruces. "Yes, Quinn, of course Daisy Mae will be there and she is making you a special lunch!"

After completing our mission, we will head to the Gila National Forest (with their famous Cliff Dwellings) and spend the night outside of Silver City. Sunday we will have a morning and early afternoon of hiking and exploring before heading back home.

White Dog took charge and started issuing orders about what to pack and how to prepare. There was a brief flurry of white movement and then one-by-one everyone drifted off to nap in true pup preparation for the arduous schedule ahead.