Happy 7th Birthday Joe
Joe, our birthday boy lives a nomad life. He travels and enjoys his siestas and trotting in circles. Each evening he takes a walk with his sister, Cleo while she zooms after their friend, Harley.
And Joe, what did you do today?
“I like sleeping late. Silly Cleo began trying to wake me and get huMom to take us outside in the dark. There are dangerous things in the dark. Last night a skunk came through our campsite. I hid my nose, his fragrance stunk.” Joe closed his eyes as if bored.
Did anything else exciting happen?
“Cleo began singing and she hums. I added additional bark to the choir practice. Sometimes I actually harmonize. Harley, the big girl dog from next door came out and I’d like to becomes friends but her huMom said she doesn’t like little dogs. I am anything but little. I weigh in at 7 lbs 1 oz.” He raised his head and crossed his front legs.
That does sound fun and frustrating. How long have you been able to sing?
“Cleo taught me after I was adopted as her brother. It took a while, I wasn’t really sure how she was able to howl. I like to yap in time with her singing.” He got up from his pillow and turned around to get into a better position.
Do you bark a lot?
“Cleo and I are on guard a lot. There are so many things that try to get my huMom. Not all people have good intentions. It’s Cleo and my responsibility to scare those people away. My huMom tells me to use my inside voice a lot. She wants me to growl instead of actually bark. That’s so annoying. I would have to growl twenty-four seven to keep her notified of all things.” He rolled to his side.
What adventures have you been on this winter?
“Cleo told you the highlights yesterday. After the New Year’s Eve bash. we headed to the hot springs with two of her new friends. One was Harley’s huMom and they continued to caravan with us for the rest of the winter. HuMom was in a party mode and we headed to the Par T R next. That’s where she met a prospector and his friends. We headed to north of Kingman to the prospector claim. And Cleo and I met, Wiley Coyote. He wasn’t a real coyote, those are dangerous. Wiley is a good friend of mine. HuMom’s furnace died and we condensed to a small area to sleep in the RV and heat it with a small heater. Mike the prospector gave huMom a tank to run it or we would have had to leave early. When Wiley’s huMom had to visit her mom, the packing to travel again began. I’m pretty content in my own little world of guarding huMom and sleeping. Our uneventful return to Quartzsite became interesting when I saw my huMan friend Don along with Harley and her huMom. Harley’s huMom helped my huMom to tear the bunk over the cab apart. It was yucky due to it being wet. The huMan didn’t fix it correctly and huMom had to re-do it herself. Then my world changed. I didn’t think Cleo and I were going to get fed ever again.” Joe’s eyes were as big as saucers.
Do tell what happened?
“huMom fell through the plastic step we used to get into the RV and fell to the ground. She didn’t jump back up and joke about being a clutz. My huMan friend Don came running over to keep Cleo and me from jumping on her to wake her up. She may not have been asleep but she wasn’t moving which was unlike her. We wanted to get to her face and make sure she was alright. Harley’s huMom held on to his kitty, Lilith and Harley stood by watching too. It was a good thing huMan Don was there to help huMom into our RV. She couldn’t walk. The humans packed her in ice, elevated her foot, gave her food and visited several times a day. It was exhausting. I had to growl to let them know she was still injured and needed rest. Nine days later she was able to go to the Veterans hospital to get x-rayed. The humans were happy. She was gone all day and it was stressful. What if she didn’t come back? Who would feed us, or walk us, or let us run outside? Her friends gave her many gifts that allowed her to walk, they were funny she was 4-legged too. Now, we are happy and feel secure again. She can feed us, walk us, hold and pet us, chase Cleo with a brush. Eww I don’t like the brush either. We are on another adventure. But there are no campers around us. Cleo and I like that. We can watch the bunnies, maybe chase them if our leads are long enough. And we go trick or treating every night. Each evening it’s Halloween and we get treats from Harley’s huMom.
“Here’s a video of me doing my thing …
