The Three of Us

My mom sure knows a lot of people.  How do I know? Well, she introduces Sambuca and me to folks all the time.

I’ve noticed a trend. An uncle or an aunt is usually a close friend of my mom, Tanya. When we meet them, John becomes Uncle John, Joan becomes Aunty Joan, and so on. You get the picture.

Each human has a unique scent.  And trust me, I smell a lot, and I mean, A LOT of people.

One Friday night, Tanya wasn’t having her normal relaxed kind of evening. She wasn’t on the couch with a glass of wine watching golf on the television. Instead, she was in her bedroom packing a suitcase.

Sambuca was already up on the bed watching the process.

I look up to my Big Sis.  What’s going on?

Sambuca appears worried. Not sure, she said, but I think Tanya may be going on a trip.

What’s a trip?

She rolls her eyes. There is a long pause as she glares at me. 

I wouldn’t have asked if I knew what you meant. Grrrrr.

A trip is when Tanya goes away for a day or two.

GULP. Is she going without us?  Why would she do that?

I start to growl at the bag on the floor.

“Appy, what’s wrong, little one?” Tanya coos.

I bark. Don’t go! Don’t leave us, please, please momma.  But most importantly, whose is going to feed me if you are away?

Another eye roll from the white schnauzer.

“It’s okay, Appy.” Tanya scoops me up into arms and places me on the bed next to Sambuca. “We are all going on a road trip!”

Ha! You were wrong. I stare at Sambuca.  We are going on the trip too!

The next morning, we wake up. Tanya goes through her usual routine.

I notice there are several other bags at the door with her suitcase.

I gaze up at Tanya.

“Oh App, there’s a bag for all your toys, your food and treats, and for all of my stuff that didn’t fit in the suitcase.”

Sweet baby Jesus, lady.  Are we taking the kitchen sink too?

Tanya packs up the car and puts us in the back seat. Why on earth is her golf bag with us? Good thing we have the Zuki as my momma calls it. A fully loaded 2007 Suzuki Vitara. It even has a sun roof!

She starts the car and looks at us in the rear-view mirror, “You girls all good back there?”

Sambuca lays down in the dog bed. Yes mom.

“App, you good?”

I follow Sambuca’s lead and settle in.

Tanya turns on the radio, “Oh I love this song!” and she turns up the volume.

“We have an hour and half drive to Uncle Mike and Uncle Robert’s house in Saint John.” Our human shouts over the music.

I don’t know how long that is but sounds long.

We stop a few times along the way. Once to let Sambuca and me out to stretch our legs and another time for gas. We go through a drive through which I enjoy doing, since it involves Timbits for me.

Are we there yet, momma? Tanya looks into the rear view mirror and says, “No little one. Not yet.”

Sambuca stares me. What? What? I’m just asking. Kid, we are half way there. Chill.

“Okay girls, time to take a nap again. We are half way there.” Tanya announces.

Sambuca closes her eyes. I get comfy, again, in the dog bed.

After a while, Tanya declares, “We are here!!” and she starts honking the horn. There is no one in sight.

Suddenly, a door opens, and a guy comes out wearing pajama pants and a t-shirt.  Tanya jumps out of the car and goes to hug him. They kiss each other on the cheek.

This man opens the side door, and he pokes his head in, “Hi Sammy!” And Sambuca pushes me aside.

Sambuca’s tail is going a mile a minute. I missed you! I missed you!

And why does he call her Sammy?  It’s Sambuca.

He reaches over to pat me, and I pull back.

“Appy, this is your Uncle Mike! Go say hello.” Tanya encourages.

Sambuca chimes in, He’s the best! You will love him!

The man puts his hand out.  I sniff it.  It’s a familiar smell.  Bacon, is that you? I lick his hand to be sure.  Yup, bacon it is!

Uncle Mike pulls me into his arms, “Well aren’t you a cutie! Hi Appy! I’m Mike and I have heard lots about you!”

Yeah. Yeah. Nice to meet you mister. Now where is the bacon?

With me still in his arms, Mike pops the trunk. “Holy cow woman! Are you moving in or what??”

Ha. Ha. Ha. I’m going to like this dude.  He seems to know my mom.

Soon, another man appears, dressed in a similar outfit. I’m thinking, are there no Dockers or Levis in New Brunswick?

He takes me from Mike and hugs me, “Hello Appy! I’m Robert.” He rubs my ears.  Oh, he smells nice. Kind of spicy.

He gives some loving to Sambuca, and she is excited to see him too.

The uncles bring our bags inside.  I look up a long flight of stairs and I see a dog barking behind a glass door at the top.

Uncle Robert puts me down on the floor, “Okay Appy, your big sister knows Lyla, but this is your first visit.  Time to go meet her, and our four cats.”

I look at Sambuca.  Why didn’t you warn me?  There are cats? This is going to be awesome! We get to chase cats! And there are four of them!!

“And Appy, no chasing cats.” It’s the stern voice of Uncle Mike.

Who is this dude? Is he a dog whisperer?

“Okay, let’s go and meet all the four-legged ones!” Robert says.

Yes! YES! I need to meet these cats and chase them around the house!  So much fun!!

I’m Super Pup, after all.  The chaser of birds, squirrels and chipmunks.  And now cats? This is going to be a good day!

And that’s how I met my Uncle Mike and Uncle Robert.