April 20, 2010

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and discovered that for the day “your life sucked”? That happened to me yesterday so I rested, walked a couple of times and just managed to get by.

Yesterday was our big adventure that I really want to share with you. We got up really early in the morning to get around and were on the road by 8:00 a.m. I knew the moment my “doggie bag” came out and Mamaw started putting water and food in it. That’s my sign we’re On the Road Again. We drove to Denison, IA where we met up with a fella Poppy has known for over 35 years. He sells cemetery monuments and Poppy wanted to give him a chance to price one out for us. So we met up there and talked about what they want and walked and walked around the yard looking at the stones. My nose was on high alert with all of the smells and I really wonder if I got into something I should have left alone. That could have caused my discomfort all day yesterday.


Anyway, when we were done there, Mamaw wanted to get a picture of me in front of this neat old house that is a bed and breakfast—she JUST LOVES THOSE…The name of this place is CONNER’S CORNER Bed & Breakfast. This mansion was built by Judge James Perry Conner in 1893 for $7,000. Well, she got her pictures so we moved on from there and went downtown to Donna Reed Foundation building. Mamaw went in to get some flyers I have to read cause she expects that our trips will be educational for me. She has always said with such an aristocratic name, I’d better be educated and well-mannered!

She inquired about where the Donna Reed home place is located and they said it was 6-7 miles south and east on Donna Reed Road but that the house no longer exists. Now that’s sad…Mamaw and I really wanted to see that!

From there it was really time for lunch. Poppy says, “We gotta find someplace to eat outside because we have Scarlett with us.” And about then, an A & W Root Beer appeared out of the blue! And they had outside picnic tables! Mamaw took me to a table and Poppy ordered lunch. Mamaw prepared water and food for me and we all ate our lunch. Now, a sign in the window said A & W had been serving communities since 1919—can you believe it? Mamaw says Wikipedia says the franchise started by Roy Allen and two years later he partnered with Frank Wright. They combined initials and became A & W. There are few of these left.

On the Road Again, we headed for Fonda, IA to see Poppy’s Mom—remember, she’s 92 years old. Poppy took a little nap in the chair and I thought, “What the heck—I’ll nap a little too.” So Mamaw and Alma visited until time to move on. The next leg of our journey was to Fort Dodge to see daughter, Regina and family. I really like that family—they like me too! (smile, smile) The kids are always in and out cause they have lots of activities they are involved in along with their school work. When Jon finished his tennis practice, I was put in my kennel so Poppy could take them all out to eat. I didn’t mind at all—I knew they’d be back for me. And if they didn’t come back for me, I knew Regina would take wonderful care of me. I’d just have to figure out how to make friends with the rabbit! Could be a little problem there…

And then HOME—we are finally going home. I am so tired I can’t hold my head up. And Poppy is really tired too! Mamaw has offered to drive but he’s being kinda stubborn and wants to make it on his own. He knows I don’t like his bony lap the way I like Mamaw’s soft lap. Poppy is a skinny little guy and doesn’t hold his legs together for me like Mamaw does. After all, Mother Knows Best.

We’re home—let me pee please! Thanks, I needed that. Now let’s wind down a little okay? Mamaw read the paper and just sort of waited to see if I would need to go out again before bed. Well, I did—I did the poop thing so I’m gonna be ready for bed now. Hey, Mamaw—Poppy—I love you. See you in the morning…