Continued from Tumbleweed Over the Deep Blue Sea
Jericha and Paul Franz, my daughter and her husband, arrived to visit in late August, 2011. Would Elf remember her friends from a year ago, when she was a mere four months old, still wearing baby fuzz? Opus is a wonderful watchdog who doesn't always know when to knock off the barking when people come into the house. He was still getting used to his new forever home after less than a week in it. So how would that work?
Egghead Elf
Photo by Jericha Franz
Opus quickly realized that Paul is The Best… 
Photo by Jericha Franz
…while Elf smiled at everybody from in front of me.
Photo by Jericha Franz
Right after Jericha and Paul arrived they had to get acquainted with Opus. Sometimes he's none too friendly towards people who come into the house, even though his inner nature is Mr. Cuddles. Here he offers the "new" person his devoted friendship. From the human point of view, it's easier to accept that when the offer isn't accompanied by so much tickling! Photo by Paul Franz.
Elf remembered them just fine. Paul may be the most playful human she knows? She never stopped reminding him that she was ready for a ball game. Both dogs followed him everywhere. Photo by Jericha Franz.
But time, it goes so fast with happy family visits. Nine days later Opus found himself nervously observing a lot of packing. His new adored ones are off to the South Bay Area in California for a few years…
Photos by Emily Lee
All too soon the wagon was packed, the two figures had vanished around the corner from the front door, got in and driven slowly, slowly away, down the bumpy road we live on, off into the big world where small dogs mustn't go alone...
Now we await news from the west coast. Meantime -- like me, you can take a peek at Paul's often updated blog, Nicht Diese Tone.
"Sorrow and joy have embraced," as they so often do in a life. If there were no partings there could be no reunions, though, so we accept things as they are. Which did not stop the dogs from crying loudly for ninety minutes after their family left. Opus even sat at the back gate, through which he'd been observing their car for days, and howled so loud I raced out -- thinking he was being attacked. Things calmed down after that.
My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined....
~`Abdu'l-Bahá
