DeeBee's Travel Blog 6

Day 7- Canyonville, OR

An exciting and fun day for all of us! We hurried through our regular morning routine, and took the truck into downtown Canyonville, found a parking spot, and walked down to Main Street to find a place to view the Pioneer Days Parade. We got a place on the sidewalk next to a very nice older lady who took an immediate liking to me, and talked with me and gave me pets throughout the parade. And a wonderful parade it was! There were fire engines, antique cars, high school marching groups, and horses. The fire engines were kind of loud, but it didn't bother me. I was really impressed by the horses, they are so big and strong! Strong enough to carry people on their backs! I've got a great deal of admiration for them. There was a young Goldie and his Yellow Lab buddy across the street who got a little upset by the horses and actually barked at them. Bad form, in my book. Bad training. He was also scarfing up the candies that the Parade marchers threw for kids on the route, wrappers and all. He'll be sorry tonight.

When the parade was over, we hurried back to the rig to load up stuff for the reunion. Into the truck went the grill, folding chairs and food. Then a short ride over to Carmen and Leonard's house, where the reunion was being held this year. By the time we got there, most of the crowd had arrived and was eating already, so Don had to scramble to set up his grill and start the hot dogs, as he does every year. We were welcomed by Cousins Carmen, Joyce, Susie, Janice, Brenda, Kerry and Dottie June, as well as Aunt Dorothy. There appeared to be lots of good food for the humans in attendance; unfortunately, Geri was of the opinion that I might be inclined to go on a begging tour through the tables, so I was unceremoniously shackled some distance away from the dining area. When everyone was done eating, Don intervened on my behalf and got me freed to go and mingle with the crowd. I felt like grumbling over the unfairness of my confinement, as there were two other dogs freely roaming the area while the humans were feasting, Carmen's Chester and a cute little Pommy puppy from across the street. But I held my tongue and made my rounds to introduce myself to everyone. I have to say, I was well received by all present, and got many compliments over my decorous behavior and good humor.

The crowd soon broke up into conversation groups; I saw that Don and Aunt Dorothy were looking at a gallery of old photos of bygone Yokums that Brenda and her husband Carl had compiled and loaded onto his laptop computer. Don told me there were some shots of his Father when he was very young! Cousin Jan, from Portland, exhibited some consternation when her son Rob informed her that their car wouldn't start; they were planning to drive down to Ashland after the reunion to attend a performance. Fortunately, they were able to get their car hauled up to Roseburg, where they had a rental car waiting for them.

Everyone was having a good time getting reacquainted and up to date on what was going on in their lives. I was having a wonderful time, working my way from group to group and getting great quantities of petting and adulation. Chester warmed up to me, and even attempted to achieve greater degrees of intimacy, which I actively discouraged. As I worked the crowd, I noticed that Aunt Dorothy and Don had gotten into a spirited conversation over who was her favorite Nephew; Dorothy had to admit that the lately departed Cousin Ronnie had been her favorite, because he needed her more. Don was apparently none too pleased with this information, even threatening her with revocation of her Favorite Aunt status. I thought I might have to remind him that she is now his only Aunt, but he caught himself in time and withdrew the threat. Shortly after, Aunt Dorothy was informing the group that she had even changed Don's diapers when he was a baby; she then switched gears and told the story of when she got her first dog, name of Chico, who had a tail that she thought was too long and unsightly. She described how she was so offended by his tail that she armed herself with a cleaver and abruptly removed it in a single chop. Geri was listening to the tale of the tail; when it ended, she asked if Don's parents had known about her experience in tail surgery when they allowed her to change Don's diaper. Lots of whooping and shrieking!

It was a most enjoyable afternoon for everyone, and they all promised to return next year for more fun and food. We were among the last to leave, and when we got back to the rig we all collapsed into varying states of exhaustion. I think I was the tiredest, as I hadn't had a single moment of nap time all afternoon. Don went to work on the blog, prodding me with questions about my observations of the day, and keeping me awake! When I couldn't keep it up any longer, he had to cease production, which is why the blog is late today. Sorry, but sometimes sleep comes first! Sayonara!