Lucie Goosie Dandy

July 4th marked my first parade and first fireworks show. The town we moved to had their 82nd annual Independence Day parade, that's one for every year they've been a borough. Cool, huh? Not so cool, waking up at quarter to 9, so I could get my front row seat ahead of Lottie.

The parade begins at the firehouse a half block from us and passes our house! So, Lottie and I dressed up and took our places on the chaise lounge on the deck. I've been waiting and waiting for something neat to watch from that deck and I finally got it! Oh boy, did I get it!

At exactly 9 A.M., the firehorn signals the start of the parade and everybody heads to the route. We've heard that before so it wasn't a big deal. We had people lined up in front of our yard, so that was neat to watch just by itself. Then the parade began. First the honorary Grand Marshal passed and then there were all the kids on their decorated bikes. It seemed like every kid in Pine Beach was part of the parade. Then some old cars passed. Wonderful, so far!

Then...the bagpipers. We never heard bagpipers before and that's when Lottie took cover. I got the whole chaise lounge to myself, but I didn't know if I wanted to stay there either. But then they passed and residents with their decorated floats went by. Phew.

And then? I think every firetruck and ambulance in Southern Ocean County must have went by...with their sirens on. That's when *I* wanted to head for cover. But, my Trista sat down in the lounge with me and I stayed and watched.

At the very end, Lottie caught on to the tune and tried to sing along with the sirens. I can't sing melodies like her, but I added some percussive barks. And then it was all over and I was sad. I wanted it to come around again! Again! And again! But it didn't.

Later, when it was potty time and I was done with my business, I laid down and looked where the parade had went by, waiting for another, but no luck.

But, I did get another parade of people later at night - sort of. The town next to us had their 68th Annual Fireworks on the Toms River show. They say it's the 2nd or 3rd biggest in all of New Jersey! And *everyone* in Pine Beach heads for the riverfront for an unobstructed view. There were cars and strollers and people and bikes all filing by our house for over a half hour - as long and as interesting to me as the parade in the morning, but without the "music."

When the big bangs began, we didn't realize just how close they were going to sound. My Trista went to the deck where I had had so much fun early in the day and discovered we could see the biggest blasts from there, so we all sat there and watched the show. I didn't like it. Lottie did her "shut down" dog where she hunches her back and stares at the ground. But me, I was barking along with every blast - now that's a song *I* can sing along with! I was all over that deck...and I had 2 accidents because of all the unexpected noises.

After a little while I calmed down, but the show just kept going and going. So, after a rest, I started up again. Then it began to rain. My Trista didn't seem to realize it, so I was sure to tell her and retell her.

Finally, the finale came and Lottie began to sing along with the song on the radio...and I sang along with the bangs. Then, quiet. Ah...

Really, Lottie and I did very well. I did much better than with big thunderstorms during which I used to hyperventilate. And, Lottie did better than when she thinks someone's breaking in. But, I'm glad they only happen *once* a year. Boy oh boy what a day - did I sleep good last night!

On the health front, my vet said on the phone I sound like I'm doing good and we could wait on the exploratory surgery until I finish my meds...which will be Monday. He said it could still be a hidden stone, but if it were the other possibilities, you wouldn't see the improvement we see everytime I'm on the medicine.

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