After a
hiatus of several years, I have volunteered to once again author the Cass
family Christmas letter. This is a welcomed chance for me to reclaim the
keyboard since, as my five loyal readers know, I had to temporarily give up writing this blog in order to help Tanya and Todd get our house ready for market and sell
practically everything we owned (including a slightly used dog pillow and a box
of stale Milkbones) so that we can downsize, buy a sailboat, and hit the high
seas. Having never moved my paws off dry land I’m not totally sure what the
high seas are, but I overheard Todd talking about the need for me to pee and
poop on a piece of AstroTurf or some such thing. I’m thinking this does not
sound good…
But, as I’ve
frequently proven, I am a team player. So, I’ve spent this past year generously
supporting Todd and Tanya’s life dream. A few of the many examples of my largess:
- I have become an excellent road navigator, having successfully co-piloted Todd through several trips between Indiana and Florida. I am however, still working on convincing Tanya to give up her position at shotgun – she seems not to understand that my backseat driving would be much more effective from the front.
- I guaranteed Todd’s successful transition to working from home by gluing myself to his side at the computer and allowing him breaks only when my nature calls. His colleagues at Gibraltar Design have hardly noticed my occasional presence on conference calls.
- I have calmly adjusted to having my large Invisible-Fenced yard replaced by a 5 foot leash, along with stupid commands like “stay”, “heel”, and “leave it”. I draw the line however at “come” – if Todd and Tanya are foolish enough to leave me to my own devices (i.e. drop the leash or crack a door too wide) well, too bad for them. I’ll return when I damn well please (or dinnertime, whichever comes first).
- I charmed my way into the hearts and homes of family members and close friends who graciously offered us short-term housing only to perhaps later regret that the definition of “short-term” had failed to be adequately agreed upon. We will forever be indebted to the Bullis and Cass/Tobey households.
- I spent several days babysitting my Vizsla nephew, Westin, so that Todd and Tanya could help Jake and Brynlee put together dressers and cribs, shiplap walls, and hang baby clothes in preparation for the impending arrival of twins – a boy and a girl. I realize that I should have more sympathy for the adjustments poor Westin will soon have to make, but the fact that he is currently being forced to listen to CD renditions of babies crying is just too hilarious.
- I’ve offered advice and encouragement to both Howie, who just received a promotion at Redfin, and Kara, who took on a new job with Ryan Fireprotection. While I tried to be enthusiastic in my congratulations, personally, I feel for anyone who actually has to work for a living.
- I’ve expanded my vocabulary with phrases like “market analysis”, “loan broker”, “bank statements” and “underwriting”. I have no idea what these things mean except that their use in loud conversation usually required something Tanya and Todd call “medicinal cocktails”.
So yes, I’ve
certainly fulfilled my role as therapy dog in the past year. But the psychic
that Tanya met in her water aerobics class has assured her that we’ll soon be
settled in safe harbors. Perhaps before I even mail this letter….
Merry Christmas and Ahoy Mates,
Tanya, Todd, and Gracie
