Monday 22-09-2008

Nick brought Merle in a kennel and two duffel bags to us at 0405 am. I had not even gotten out of my pajamas. We only had a couple of pieces of luggage, so there was plenty of room. Merle distinctly did not want to get into the kennel, but was obedient. When I put him in the back of the car, I felt impressed to explain to him that we were taking him to Bob and Kathy. Oddly, I felt he understood me. At least he calmed down and I left him in the car and went upstairs and finished getting ready to go.
We left Jared’s at 0450.
We bought fuel at Woods Cross, Mountain Home, and Burns.
Jackie bought herself breakfast at McD’s in Tremonton while I walked Merle.
I also walked him at rest stops: at the junction of I-84/86, Ontario, Drinkwater Pass, Burns, Bend, and the entrance to a ski park on 126, and finally just after Eugene.
We had planned to take Merle to Kathy and Bob Shykes’ home, but when we left Eugene, we were tired, and so was Merle. We called them and arranged to meet them at the church, instead. That was on our way home, and was a lot easier than trying to find their home way out south of town. When we arrived at the church, they were waiting. That was one very happy reunion. Merle had been an exceptionally obedient and patient dog all the way. He never barked and only whined when he needed to be taken for a little walk. But when we drove into the church parking lot, although it was dark and he was in his kennel in the rearmost part of the car, he recognized Bob, and began barking excitedly. Bob didn’t wait for me to even stop the car; he ran around to the back of the car and opened it and opened the kennel. Merle was beside himself with joy. And Bob and Kathy were, too, although they were a little more circumspect than Merle. Not much more, though. They showed us their rings and announced that they had renewed their vows on Sunday.
We got home and checked our mail. Our mission call was in the mailbox (finally!). We couldn’t open it, though, until we got to Chuck and Beth’s next day. I suggested to Jackie that we could always steam the envelope open and act surprised next day. But we were good. We waited. It seemed like Christmas Eve, what with the envelope sitting on the kitchen table unopened.
We called the kids and scheduled a conference call to open it at 1745 (5:45 p.m.) on Tuesday.
We watched one episode of The West Wing while eating a quickly prepared dinner of scrambled eggs and toast.