I’ve been busy clearing the moving clutter, clearing the store inventory boxes and such and had to get out of the house this past weekend.  My son and I visited with my good friend, Jill Freeman and her family in Pennsylvania first. We went to the Saturday morning market in downtown Lancaster and had some bakery treats. Then we headed out to Lititz a few miles away, just for a little shopping therapy.

Sunday we headed to the beach to see my mom and so Josh could go surf fishing. It’s a completely different thing than fresh water fishing and he loves it. Late Monday night he caught a large skate, which was a big deal and a good fish story for him to tell.

Tuesday morning, I got up early, had my coffee, packed the car and Josh even got up on his own, good kid that he is. My mom was having a few minutes with him over breakfast and I went out and walked the dog around the block. We rounded the corner to a favorite telephone pole and that was where we met Duke. He poked his head out from behind a house, looking for a friendly face, and there we were! He came right over, all 70+ pounds of him, ready to introduce himself to my 3.5 pound Squeak. No, up Squeak came, into my arms and we headed back to the house.

Well, Duke was persistent. He followed us down the street, into the yard and right up to the door. I put Squeak inside and proceeded to get to know Duke. He had no collar, was well fed and very friendly, even got some kisses!!! I walked him around the block on our little leash, or should I say he walked me around the block… anyway, no people looking for a dog and no one around to recognize him.

At this point I should say that I grew up in this neighborhood, where in the summer, all is fun and sun and beach and friends and family. Then when it’s time to go home for the winter, people have been known to leave their pets behind. I was always finding dogs and cats and having to watch as they were driven away to their unknown ends. It wasn’t going to happen to Duke!

Josh sat with the big dog on my mom’s porch while we called the police. It just so happened that 10 minutes before someone had called about a missing dog with Duke’s description! They were in the driveway in a flash. Two women jumped from the car, full of adrenaline from the hunt of finding their love, their Duke! He was just as happy to see them. It was a good reunion.

But that wasn’t the end of the story… I had to get back to Virginia to vote before 7pm and I did it, at 6:50! It was important to me to do the right thing, which was first to care for the life of a beautiful animal that for whatever reason crossed my path that morning. The other right thing was to vote, to show my son that some days, no matter the challenge, no matter the obstacles, you stay the course and do what must be done. I’ve only missed a couple of mid-term elections, and never missed voting in the presidential elections. It’s important and I’m glad I made it.

Hope your election day was as fulfilling as mine.