This year we had our usual non-Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving. Instead of lingering around a beautifully set table, here we are hanging out in the conversation pit with hundreds of Lego pieces and who knows what else on the floor.
There is a common thread that runs through all of our Thanksgivings. The usual holiday chaos is amped way up with the mix of grandkids and dogs. Sadly Riley and Elbee left us this year but Gus and Stanley more than did their part. They are Doodles and Doodles do not like to be ignored.
Ten year old Samantha actually has no problem with them. Her fifteen year old brother Ryan has a teen attitude so whatever. Six year old Bella has made incredible progress. She and her little brother Ryder came to terms with Gus some time ago because he’s small and cute. Stanley, being extra large, at first sent them both running. Then, I’m not sure how it happened (neither is she) but Bella almost started to like him.
Ryder, not so much. I think his 
perspective is like the perspective in this photo where Stanley’s head looks immense. Stanley, sensing Ryder’s energy and attitude, went on a totally unsuccessful campaign of jumping and high pitched barking to win him over.
We finally put him in the yard for awhile so we could all have a break.
ELBEE That is just sad.
STANLEY May I remind you, I’m still a kid. I was so hurt I tried to get Robert the mailman to take me with him.
To show you how little progress was made, when they were leaving, Ryder announced that he had nicknames for the dogs. Gus was “Cloud” and Stanley was “Pain in the Butt.”
CHARLEY Sorry to say, she does not make this stuff up.
One other thing happened that was kind of the icing on the Thanksgiving cake or the gravy on the turkey.
ELBEE Please tell me she didn’t just say that.
Freshly bathed, Gus and Stanley were, of course, hanging around the kitchen when the husband was carving the turkey. For some reason the knife made a hole in the pan and juice started pouring off of the cutting board, showering the dogs.
ELBEE Maybe it was because she was using one of those cheap disposable pans.
Despite trying to wash them off, they still smell awful and I’m becoming a vegan.
