Well, I just arrived back from my jaunt in the Great White North of Canada and it is funny how even when you are away from your animals they are still with you in spirit.

I dropped my crew off at a local retreat and immediately felt the pangs of separation anxiety starting to build. This was my first time dropping off the "kids" to the facility (though they had stayed there before) and I was not sure on how I was going to react. Luckily, when I went to Norway, a friend dropped them off for me (that in itself is a story for another time... let's just say it involves food spillage, lateness and constant barking) so I did not see the reactions. Boy, did I see them this time! I had faces looking at me like I was never coming back, pawing and a little bit of whining. I know that this is all guilt, but it works. Trust me. They know what they are doing and mine were working the guilt hard. As I drove away, all I could think about was that I wish I could be taking them with me, am I doing the right thing, etc...

The funny thing about this was that the last time the crew stayed at the kennel they came home clean, played out and didn't get out of bed for a day or two. It was a beautiful thing so I knew they would be in good hands and that I was going to have some needed R-n-R.

Well, the trip was a great time, but the canine gods were messing with me. I saw a ton of dogs that looked like mine and every time one would pass they would stop and look up at me. It was almost like they were saying to me... "I cannot believe you left your dogs alone!" It became almost comical.

As the week wore on and after dog after dog after dog gave me "the look", I called the retreat and was told that everyone was good and that Steve had manipulated someone else into throwing the ball until their arm hurt. They were eating well and playing with others. I had been discarded! Once I found out this tidbit of info I went in search of the carriers of guilt around where I was staying. Low and behold, none were found. Isn't that funny? Once I found out you are all working together to guilt me and that it is all a scheme, you are no where to be found?!

Leaving the North behind, I was determined to make sure that I was going to let my crew know that I knew what they had done and that they had forgotten all about me. As I pulled up to the retreat to get my crew, I was greeted right away by clean dogs (I hardly recognized them) who could barely contain themselves at the sound of my car. There was barking, jumping, running, you name the adjective and it was being performed. As I got out of the car to walk over to where they were, they bounded over to me and then to my car (I had to take them out and into the office to pay) Try as I might, I could not remember what it was that I was going to confront them with. As I was leaving a woman was sobbing and her dog was whining. I was having flashbacks from my time earlier and smiled. I knew that she and her dog were going to be okay.

Once we got home, everyone relaxed and fell into a deep sleep (mostly across my arms, legs, etc). Maybe the message wasn't that I was forgotten, but that I was being remembered. I need to work on my language skills.