Hey Tribe,
It’s the holiday season!
Are you excited? I know we are:
we love all the colors and sounds and smells that appear around this time of
year. A time when people seem to smile a
bit more, interact with complete strangers, and dress a bit more vibrant: carolers
unexpectedly grouping in a coffee shop to serenade caffeine addicts? Yes,
please!
Since Fly and I have joined the AK Solstice Search Dogs
group – have I mentioned that yet? Oh dear, I’m woefully behind on my posts! –
Anyway, our group apparently annually enters a parade float in our local Lights
Parade and Fly and I were asked if we would be part of the team that rides on
the float. Some of our group’s dogs do
not enjoy crowds, other dogs, and/or loud noises like the fireworks display
that was scheduled for the finale of the parade, but Fly is a champ and those
things don’t seem to bother her much, so I eagerly said ‘yes’ we would
participate.
We met early to stage the float and get last minute details,
and incorrigible light strands, sorted out.
All our team members wore battery-operated lights and the dogs sported
vests with lights pinned on them, so they could be seen better by the
crowd. Fly was eager to meet and sniff
the other float riding dogs – some dog handlers don’t want other dogs bothering
them when we are training, so this was Fly’s chance to socialize and she made
the best of it! Tails were wagged,
sniffs exchanged, and a small game of play ensued atop the float – much to the
consternation of the humans who were trying to keep squirming dogs from getting
tangled in our lights.
Eventually, as darkness fell, our float began to slowly roll
along the snowy street. The movement
settled the excited canines and they acted like riding atop a hay bale loaded
trailer was their everyday activity.
People cheered and waved.
“Doggie!” was exclaimed by many a small snowsuit clad child. Fly put her two front paws on my knees and
stood so she could get a better look - that, or she knew it put her at a better
position for being noticed. We heard calls
of “Beautiful dog!” and “What kind of dog is that?” directed in our direction
after that. Fly grinned and behaved as
if she were the parade queen, looking this way and that at her admiring
subjects. She was very much the little
diva.
It was a wonderful evening!
Though, at the end, the fireworks touched off directly behind us as we
were rolling back to the parking lot and frightened all the dogs, who were not
expecting such a thunderous concussion of sound. The gun dogs settled into acceptance of the
noise, though Fly was uncertain and shaky until our float reached our
destination and I brought her to the truck.
With the noise dampened, she resumed her usual demeanor and I bid our
team members good evening.
Our float took third place, by the way! If you happen to be a lover of parades and
have 40 minutes of time to kill, you can watch the parade here, as well as the fireworks.
We hope your holiday season is off to a wonderful start and
that your heart is happy and at peace.
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