goodbye to old friends . . .

joanie and i have been back to our morning walks for almost a year now.  we've found shady lanes and friendly folks in the manufactured home subdivision just south of us.  we've met all the dogs and their families, say hello to the grumpy old man, who always says "lousy" when we ask him how he's doing.  i've been feeding george cat treats and he finally lets me pet him.  (george, a regular old brown tabby, has a sad story.  his people mom passed away and his people dad kicked him out of the house.  a couple of the neighbors feed him and one keeps a cat igloo in her car port for him during inclement weather.  poor george.  he was so skittery when we first met him.  can't blame him.  but he was coming around and instead of hissing at me, he would let me stroke the length of his body while he noshed on the contents of my pocket.) and louie. now louie was a ray of sunshine.  at first we thought his perky little body was ready to do us damage and gave him a wide berth.  come to find out, we couldn't have been more wrong.  louie is a prince of pups.  king of canines.  duke of dogdom.  if ever i decided i needed another dog in my life, it would be louie.

in short, we made ourselves to home.  we'd wave and kibitz with richard the gate guard.  we owned the joint.  until . . . last monday when a member of the hoa board hot footed it over to us and told us how they pay lots of money to live in a secure neighborhood and that we were interlopers.  out.  out.  out.  and so, on wednesday, a very apologetic richard met us with sad eyes and told us we were forevermore banned.  no goodbyes to louie, or george or maxwell or howard the dog and his buddy iris rose.  no more grumpy man or the lady from atlanta who walked her dogs separately because they were exact opposites in temperament.  cut to the bone.  ouch!

joanie's dad suggested we try central park.  a series of lakes and walkways provided by the city.  we have to get in the car but it's shady and woody and full of dogs and their people. 

 

 

who could ask for anything more????? 

goodbye louie.  goodbye george.  i hope you have swell lives.