Ollie's Post August 6, 2014

Hello, my fellow dogs and dog lovers,

It's another lovely sunny day in the neighborhood.  My dad has taken me outside twice already to run free through the yard and roll with glee in the grass.  I love the freedom to frolic and romp without any restrictions that come with my harness and leash ... I am one with the wind and grass.

Yesterday, when I heard my pals Pumpkin (an aging golden retriever) and Wyatt (a springer spaniel about my age) outside playing, I  yipped with joy and started to make a mad dash to the path my dad and I have made to their yard through the woods.  It was muddy due to the recent rain so dad scooped me up just before I reached the path and carried me over to sniff and race around with my pal Wyatt.  We had a blast while dad stood there with his arms crossed and a big grin on his face.  Pumpkin doesn't join in on our races ... he would rather get belly rubs from my dad and one of the dog bones he carries in his pockets just for such occasions.  After Wyatt and I were tired of running at top dog speed my dad scooped me up and took me home where I could get a drink and  take a nap in a patch of sunlight.  I have a great dad.

Today I got to see my new friend who comes to help my mom out with household chores for a few hours a week that she can no longer do.  She comes from Uganda and lost her entire family -- father, mother, 2 brothers and 3 sisters -- to genocide.  She watched them being beheaded while she stayed in the hiding place her father told her to go to and had to put her fist in her mouth to stop from screaming in horror and pain.  I don't understand what all of that means, but I saw tears in her eyes and in my mom's eyes as she told her story.  Now she lives in this country and is married to a man who also lost his large family with the exception of two sisters to genocide.  They have two boys -- Alfa is 4 years old