Coon Dog Day

Every July, the people of Saluda, North Carolina - and thousands of other people from around the country - gather together to celebrate the rabid-beast-hunting mutts we call Coon Dogs. The population of this tiny town grows exponentially for one weekend only as people come to watch the parade, compete in the Dog Show, eat man's unhealthiest concoctions, and witness the treeing of a coon. It truly is an unbelievable sight. A few years ago, I watched a 400 lb. bearded man in a gray t-shirt and overalls hold the index finger of one hand to the tip of his coon dog's nose while the other hand straightened the dog's tail out behind him. Meanwhile a judge with a clipboard slowly circled the duo, clearly impressed. With what, I cannot be sure. Were it not for the lack of Cavalier Spaniels and other pure bred lap dogs . . . oh, and some sophistication . . . I'd have sworn we were at Westminster.

Canon and I joined MyGoo, Doc, Ann Steiner, Jason, Amelia, and Ceil for this year's Coon Dog Day. Because I had the little man, I wasn't able to take pictures of all of the festivities, so you won't get to see a picture of the slightly overweight 17-year-old beauty queen who rode in the parade in her bikini. What you will see are pictures of the family - ok, mostly the children - enjoying being together.

Amelia and Canon fell in love immediately. She is so great with him, and he pretty much lets her do whatever she wants. Ceil shows her love a little more aggressively, but it's obvious how much she loves him, too.

On the way home on Sunday, MyGoo, Doc, Canon and I stopped by G-G-Mama's to visit. Of course, no camera again, but lots of sweet memories of G-G-Mama trying to coax Canon over and him being too shy to comply. He did perform for her, though, showing her all of the body parts he knew and trying to climb on her motorized stair chair. She was delighted, of course, which always delights everyone around.