South Hadley: Protesting

Today I went to two vigils, one in North Hampton and then on to Belchertown. Good-sized crowds for small New England towns--around a hundred at the first one, probably about three hundred in Belchertown. But here in the "happy valley," we are preaching to the crowd, with one car out of two beeping with approval as they passed.

Once, a woman near me said in surprise and consternation, "That man just gave us a thumbs down!" Are we in just a bit of a bubble?

I'm feeling very discouraged every time I think about the world outside our bubble.

We are in the middle of a heat wave--it feels hotter here than it did in the southwest. Comparable temperatures and a lot of humidity. Even with the air conditioning on, the dogs enjoy the cool stone floor of the entry way.

Day 23: South Hadley, Massachusetts!

Bobby here.

This morning when it was time to get in the car again, I had just had enough. I lay down and went limp. Mrs. D. picked me up, and I growled at her. She put me in the car, and I growled some more.

All the time, there is Eloise sitting in her car seat, doing that "I'm such a good girl" thing that she does. Well, I wasn't the one who peed on the hotel furniture back in Arizona. Just sayin'.

But finally, here we are at auntie's house, where I know my way around. Whew. Not a day too soon.

Day 22: Victor, New York

We played touch-tag with a rainstorm most of the way from Cleveland to the Rochester area, and now have settled in for the last night on the road--for awhile, anyway. Tomorrow night we will be in western Massachusetts.

Things to bring the next time: 1) Towels to dry off dogs after pit stops in the rain. 2) A compass. Most directions begin with, "Head north on ... " In an unfamiliar town and with clouded skies, who knows which way north is?

Day 21: Cleveland, Ohio

Now on that last leg of the cross-country trip, when it takes so much longer than you think it should. My sister has flown to Baltimore to join another friend for further fun.

12 hours from South Bend to westerns Massachusetts. I decided to take three days and not two.

Day 20 in South Bend

Miss Eloise became quite the celeb during our five-night stay, known by name to most of the motel staff as she enjoyed daily meet and greet parades from the room to the lobby and out to the car. The catch, however, is that I had made this reservation without noticing that a) the motel allows one dog, not two, and b) I was paying for all all five nights in advance to get a special reduced rate.

Bobby, therefore, was lying low and quiet in his carrying bag while Eloise entertained the troops.

We got a way with it.

Days 18 and 19 in South Bend

Walks by the river, meals and conversation in our friend's lovely upstairs screened porch that feels like a tree house.

We went to the Tiffany glass exhibit at the history museum.

https://visitsouthbend.com/tiffany-exhibit-shines-history-museum/

Day 17 in South Bend

 

Big Bobby here. This is one of my favorite places. Mrs. D. and I visit here almost every summer, and this time Eloise is here, too.

We get to go for walks a lot here. Around the neighborhood, along the river. I never want to leave.