White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog, Yet Another White Dog, The White Dog of Love and her sister, Maple, all jockeyed to help us pack into coolers the freshly delivered caramel apples for Sunday's Walk by the wonderful woman who handmade them. Every one's snoofer's sucked deeply to catch the fragrance of the essence of Fall (apples, buttery caramel and freshly roasted peanutes).
Valerie, the small business woman who makes them and sells them at Farmer's Market every weekend had to leave town; there had been a death in her family. She insisted, however, upon making and delivering these treats before she left because she knew that they would be popular at the fundraising booth selling treats. I pulled out the checkbook to pay for them. "No," she said. "I thought about this and I want you to have them and use all of the money toward the cancer research." White Dog and I protested that she was a small cottage industry and that her prices and apples were already too low for what was delivered. "No," she repeated. "please take them as my contribution."
In the afternoon most of the WDA napped in the lazy long golden sun. Except Nuka, who watched as Rebecca and I wrapped and labeled Thank You gifts for those volunteering to work, sing, perform, or lecture at the 2MillionDog Puppy Up New Mexico Walk to End cancer on Sunday. Small packets expressing our gratitude went to those who have lent their time, support, talent, efforts, and commitment to moving us closer toward our ultimate goal...a world free of cancer. Nuka made sure that every gift was wrapped with care and held a special White Dog "woof" of blessing.