Traveling with the Pups

Copper & Penny, I want to remember that from the very first day we adopted you, "riding in the car" was dog-speak for "taking an epic nap."  That these "epic naps" involved you two meshing limbs, heads and tails into a furry mass of puzzling pup-snores.  Penny, regardless of the fact that Copper has about 15 pounds on you, you still made sure to wedge yourself into the most comfortable position, which usually resulted in using a certain fuzzy butt as a pillow.  And Copper, no matter where your head landed, your ears would always snap straight up in their usual sleep satellites.

I want to remember always having to crack the windows as soon as we got off the highway, but the serious sniffing only began once we turned onto Mission Road, heading to your Shmimi & PePaw's house.  Penny, you'd stretched those little legs so your nose could reach the window- sometimes placing your paw on the arm rest to gain some ground.  Copper, your determined sniffing always made me wonder if you could smell when your cousin Wilbur last went by on this very same road.  I want to remember how each series of sniffs always ended with a resounding puff from the side of your mouth, fluffing your lip out like Popeye's. 

More specifically, I want to remember traveling back home on a Sunday in June 2010.  Andrew and I had just spent a great weekend in Nashville, TN with the Willbanks, while you two stayed with Shmimi & PePaw.  Normally we head straight to the house when we pull of the highway, but your Daddy and I decided to stop and grab something to eat since both of us were too pooped to even think about cooking dinner.  While your Daddy went in and ordered our food, I decided to walk you guys in the grass across the street from the restaurant.  This is somewhat normal for people traveling with dogs, but I should have known better. 

Copper, you are the sweetest and most laid-back dog in the world- which is great for us, but makes you kind of a pushover in the territorial dog world.  Because of this, you have never been the kind of dog to lift your leg and pee on every standing thing around you.  Nevertheless, when I walked with you and Penny outside of the restaurant and you smelled what could only have been the tinkle of another pup on a tree, your instincts attempted to take over.  You did your normal pee squat and tried to lift your left leg at the same time, resulting in some strange shaky-legged dance as you tried to not fall over.  Penny had no idea what to make of this, and while trying to figure it out, she stuck her head between your leg.  At that moment, you regained your balance and let out a stream of tinkle... right on Penny's head.  The look on both of your faces was priceless as Penny shook her head and rolled in the grass and you furiously sniffed the ground around the tree to see if your pee hit the target.  At that point, I decided we were better off waiting in the car.

What a lucky Pup-Momma I am.  I will always remember that.