Reunion 2011

Dear Sophie,
How did you like your third family reunion? We're getting better at preparing for these, aren't we?
As usual, the Charlotte flight was packed full; in fact all of them were, the two flights going in and the two coming home. We ran into a few snags at the airports too ... longer security lines and gate changes ... but we made it, all because of your support! You were as ready as I was to drop, but we kept each other going until we got to our gates. I'd tell ya but you already know, air travel in the summer isn't the most comfortable thing in the world!
We had a wonderful welcoming crew in Tri-Cities ... Jim was there, and Amy with her whole family! Sooo much fun! Finally we made it to Jim's house where you and DJ fell all over each other. First thing you had to do was go outside and rough-house! Funny, though, that didn't last very long. You were one tired pup!
There were a couple of little trips I made with Jim and Brenda, like to the store to buy food for the reunion. I was a little nervous about leaving you inside a strange home ... that was a first ... but we returned to find everything just fine and you didn't seem to have been bothered by it at all. And you didn't even get into any mischief with DJ. Good girl!!
You poor dog ... you just can't catch a break at the reunions, can you? At least there were no cannons this time but we weren't out of the truck twenty seconds before a fierce thunderstorm with howling winds dumped right on top of us. So ... on with the Thundershirt and up with your new canvas crate (thankfully we had put it together once the night before so we knew how to set it up) and you had a nice little shelter from everything! You took a dive into that crate (sideways!!) and you didn't come out till the very end of the afternoon. You seemed perfectly happy with no desire to come out and socialize, much to the chagrin of the children who wanted to play with you.
No thunder or wind or rain could dampen the joy and the love being passed around at the reunion. How I appreciated your willingness to sit the whole thing out in your crate while I visited with my family. I love them all so much!
On our way out of the state park, you encountered your first bisons ... two huge bulls, two cows, and two babies! We got out of the truck, very cautiously, and took you to say hello. They sure were watching you, especially the one great bull by the fence, but you didn't seem especially impressed by them. I bet if they were ground squirrel sized you would've been.
The next night, I dared to leave you at home again while my cousins and I met up at Cracker Barrel for Father's Day. We were there for hours, visiting, shopping, and playing checkers after dinner. It was so much fun! And when we got back to the house at nearly 11pm, there you were just as good as gold. Oh, Sophie, I was so proud of you!
I know these cross-country trips aren't easy and the reunion weekends are tiring and stressful for you, but you're such a good sport about it all and I appreciate you so much! Could I have done it without you? Sure. But not as confidently, safely, or independently. I wish you could know just how much you add to my life with your service, but the best I can give you is praise, lots of cookies, and even more rubs and scratches and loving ... which is all you ever ask for.
Thanks, baby, for another wonderful reunion weekend.