Sammy the Elf has retired for the season, having wrapped up his tour of our home by hanging acrobatically from one of the cupboards in our kitchen. Consistent with Audrey's wishes he stayed around for an extra day or so after Christmas so that she could say her goodbyes. And even then, when he was gone on the morning of the 27th, she still felt she hadn't sufficiently said farewell.
But, out with the old, in with the new. Or the somewhat new, I suppose. Audrey's imaginary friend Cali is back, for the first time since last April, and again has been spending her time at the top of the big tree behind our house. As before, Cali still resides full time in Chicago (specifically Evanston, Audrey reminded me yesterday) and still shows up only around breakfast time. We're told she's only going to stick around for another day or two so we make sure to wave to her each morning.
Grace has no imaginary friends yet - at least none we know of - perhaps because she is too busy keeping up with her real friends. Namely her sister and her cousin Trever who have a tendency to steamroll her when they are playing together, as well as Tuaca, her second cousin's Boykin Spaniel who is currently visiting for a few days.
Speaking of dogs, it's the first time the girls have been exposed to a live puppy in our home environment and, I must say, it's only making things worse for me, who has been resiting repeated requests for one. Not that I'm not a dog lover - I am - but it's always a lot more work than one thinks and we don't have a fully fenced yard. Oh - and there's the occasional dog that disappears because it gets eaten by a mountain lion, not that the Department of Wildlife would admit that.
It's not that dogs disappear often, but when you hear about an incident you don't tend to forget about it. In one instance that took place either early this year or sometime last year, a woman was walking her Yorkie at night and a mountain lion literally leaped over a fence, grabbed the dog from its leash and was gone, all in a split second. Imagine how terrifying that would be - the woman has probably been in therapy since. If she ever gets a new dog, perhaps a defenseless little Yorkie isn't the kind to get.
As I said, out with the old, in with the new.
