in America

You know what?

We consider ourselves very lucky and very privileged doggies.

We live in America.

OK. We know that's not really politically correct.

We live in the United States of America.

We honor and respect all of the Americas.  North, Central and South.

But we're listening to the songs of West Side Story right now, playing in New York City

at the Fourth of July Celebration,

and the America that they refer to is our part of America.

That's what's making us smile.

So, please forgive us our insensitivity.  We thank you in advance.

We know there are lots of other wonderful places to live.

Moma's lived in some of them.  Our Girl was born in another of them.

But right now, America is home and it's America's Birthday.

We're proud.

Our family always looks for reasons to celebrate.

Today was no exception.

We gathered at our Auntie's home. 

All of us.  All five doggies.  All four people.

Grams brought burgers and potato salad.  And Auntie cooked. And grilled. 

The grown up people nibbled on (too much) food and enjoyed chilled wine and margaritas.

(We haven't tasted either, but understand that Asta has a special cocktail we need to look into.)

Us?  We smelled the yummy food.

But we were good doggies.

We didn't eat much (except what was snuck to us) and we didn't get in any dogfights

over that wonderful smelling beef.

We had fun in other ways. We played in the doggie pool! 

 

This was the second year I've (Jake) done this.

Last summer I was pretty scared.  This year I started getting the hang of it.

Seeing as how Fergi has already dived into a river and swam, we're thinking she'll loosen up in the pool soon.

But anything she does is fine right now.  We want her to have fun in her own way at her own pace.

She enjoyed herself.

And I loved playing with a tennis ball.

The rest of our doggie family watched us, not quite so sure they agreed with my enthusiasm.

But Andy eventually ventured in.

I told him he'd be fine, to take it slow and easy.

His mama (Grams) reassured him, too.

(Isn't he a cute little bugger?)

He still wasn't so sure.

He asked me for more encouragement.

And gave his mama the look that said, "Please, may I get out?"

And, of course, she said it was fine.

There'll be another day, and we'll all give it a try again.

We've still got another month here. 

And it just keeps getting better.

And better.

When we found out today that our friend Asta will still be here for us to learn from, laugh with

and sometimes even worry about or cry for,

we all wagged and smiled.

Big.

Happy Birthday, America.

(We're thinking Nina-Girl needs to play in the orchestra in NYC next Independence Day.

Then we can go, get really brave, and see the celebration there.)