October 30, 2018

Dear Louie,
I am wondering what you are doing today in California and if you are still enjoying warm and sunny weather and trips to the park to play with our friends.  The sun has finally appeared here today, and I am so very happy to go outside in my yard and forage for sticks, leaves and other green things.

 Unfortunately, Maree is a little worried about leaving me out in the yard now because this morning she had to take three ticks off of me.  I had never seen a tick before and really don't know what they are.  Whatever they are, they weren't really bothering me, except for the one on my cheek which is all swollen. Maree was a little freaked out and had a lot of emails with an Italian vet, Gianluca, about whether this is a problem here.  Apparently, there really is not something called Lyne disease in Le Marche, where we live, and other tick borne illnesses are fairly rare in dogs.  She gave me some Benadryl for the swelling, but I know she is still worried about tick born diseases.  Me, I feel fine and I am not worried about little things that I can barely see - at least they were not those little black deer ticks I heard so much about in California. 

As a matter of fact, I felt so good this morning that when the front door was opened, I went flying out and into the street in front of the house.  This street is not like the street in front of our old house in California which was wide and paved.  This is more like a path covered in stones and with some very delightful herbs growing out of it.  As a matter of fact I pulled out some of the herbs and had a nice mid-morning snack while I was out there. 

Maree, however, started to freak out and tried to get me to co.  But this is my game and, of course, I just raced around in the street and in the field while she called me in a most distressed voice.  It sounded like she was really worried and afraid, but it did not bother me.  The more she tried to entice me to come, the further afield I roamed.  Those weeds were pretty tasty and I really liked the chase game we were playing. 

Finally, she decided to leave me alone, or so I thought.  Then she let out this blood curdling scream.  I did not know what to do, so I just sat there.  Then she ran toward the house and screamed again.  Now I was wondering exactly what this was all about, but she seemed fine, and I did not want to be tricked into going into the house. So when she looked over her shoulder toward me, I ran further away.  After all, who wants to listen to a grown woman screaming her head off.  On the third scream, however, I must admit that my curiosity was getting the best of me, so I walked over to the end of the driveway just in front of the house.  I could see her standing inside the door and looking at me.  She was jsut waiting for me to get close so she could capture me.  Now, I knew this was just some ploy to get me to come back in the house, but I was not ready.  I was enjoying the freedom I never had before.  There is so much room to run and play here, especially when I am not in the fenced in yard, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.  Finally, however, she assumed an unfair advantage.  Treats will be my downfall.  She tempted me with these great chewy treats with beef in them, and told me she would give me green beans if I came back in the house.  If it weren't for those irresistible treats and green beans which are my favorite, I would probably still be running around the field and pulling out various grasses by the roots.  I do find those tender roots to be rather enjoyable. 

This experience, however, taught me a lesson.  And it will be more difficult to catch me next time.  I can resist treats, I can resist treats, I can resist treats.  Well, I will just keep telling myself that until maybe I believe it. 

I do feel a little remorse about making Maree so upset, however, and I am still not at all aware why my behavior should so upset her.  Maybe I will understand when I am older. 

Have a great day today, Louie.
 
Your Pal in Italy, Dino