Day 179

11/10/22

Home! We are all home and together again! What a wonderful, lovely feeling to be home with the four Goldens!

Tonight, we went down to our amazing breeder to pick up the last member of our pack. Sam spent the week with Mama Cassie (our beloved breeder) and her family...including his grandma (Brandi) and sister (Stoli). My biggest concern was that he wouldn't remember us and not want to come home to Anoka and his Golden family there.

At first, he acted excited to see "new" people and then dug in a little deeper to his sniffing. All of a sudden, he began to cry! Tail wagging, jumping up to lick my face and whimpering were proof enough for me! He remembered!

Part of the joy regarding our vacation was that my son Jimmy joined his twin sister and nephew. Mac and I made up the senior portion of the group. When we parted at the airport, I asked Jimmy if he was excited to go home to California. His response was, "Burbank is where my Casa is...home is where my family is." Through the copious tears, I hugged him for the hundredth time and told him I understood.

Even though home is such a different environment for all of us. Some like their home to be a minimalist style while others like to surround themselves with things they love. I am in the latter group. Our home is FULL of memorabilia from the life we have lived...

Dishes from my Nanny

Teddy bears from my books

Pictures of places we have been

Books everywhere

The ability to hear music in every room

Dog beds and toys

Quilts and pillows

Cozy blankets

Everything that holds a memory and makes us happy

Etc.

Added to that list of things that make our house a home would be the smells of candles and something wonderful baking in the oven. Of course, Goldens are everywhere!

If I had to define the word home, as it relates to me, I would have to say:

A shelter full of everything that makes one comfortable; loved ones abounding; dogs within reach; safety and calm

I wonder what Webster would say about that definition?

No matter...we are in our Happy Place, together again. What could be better than that?