I arrived at Immer Essen Farm at last to retrieve our boy. Out he came from the house and I couldn't believe how much he had grown up in four weeks! He scamped around in the grass a little bit before noticing me then was like HEY LADY I REMEMBER YOU!! and came over and greeted me excitedly. We played a little in the front yard while I talked to Cesmir and Greg, showing them Laika and Tilley's books to let them know that he would be off to grand adventures with us.
Cesmir gave me a very organized packet of all his records, papers, and then, much like a 4-pack of toilet paper at Target, she scanned him and rang him up. He had already been microchipped so she had to scan in the number to confirm that everything matched up with the papers we'll submit.
But it was kind of funny to have him scanned, and it beeped, then I wrote a check :).
I grabbed the kennel we had left back in May and he was like, hey, where is my house going? After a few goodbye hugs - just like that - we were off. We went the other way out from the farm to head south and we inadvertently came out behind Mayfield again, so I had to stop for a partial family portrait.
We drove onward to Atlanta and he mostly stayed in my lap or behind my shoulder (weirdo).
I finally had to stop at a Wendy's to get some form of food and go to the restroom...I knew I couldn't leave him alone in the car so I improvised and put a blanket down in a large canvas beach bag, and in he went with me. It's amazing how few people suspect that you are carrying a live corgi as a purse. It was nice in the restroom because I just hung the bag on the purse hook and he just snoozed. Just like a hammock, he remarked later.
Once back in Atlanta, I had to swing by work to pick up a few things before heading to SSI, so we had a few meet and greets, many of whom felt like they knew him already as they'd seen all the pics of him over the past few weeks.
Finally, it was time to go home for the big Meeting of the Girls. I kept him in the bag and Tilley clearly wondered where I had been, why I smelled like puppies, and why in particular the bag I was carrying smelled A LOT like a puppy. To her surprise, it WAS a puppy! She was very interested but a little tentative, or moreso that we thought she would be. Laika literally didn't see him for the first few minutes then was - as expected - relatively unaffected :).
By the end of the evening, though, Tilley and Browdie were already doing a little "let me follow you around", and by the next morning they were already playing tug with some woobies. Tilley remarked that having a little brother might end up being fun after all.
Friday morning it was time to push off for the island on Browdie's first big road trip. We got the truck all ready and we were off like a pack of corgis. Browdie mostly napped, as did Tilley (shocker). Seems like in addition to Corginess they also have autonarcolepsy in common. Laika of course paced until approximately Statesboro and finally sat down around Savannah. Once we hit Darien though, she caught wind of the marsh and was giddy and smiley. Going across the causeway Browdie was clueless but Tilley and Laika were as beside themselves as I was :).
We arrived at the house where Mom and Dad were a day ahead of us and unwound by the pool. John of course jumped in with his clothes on within the first ten minutes. Tilley proved her new aqua bravado with jumping onto her float without anyone asking her to or without anyone in the water. Pool deck, float pounce, swim to the stairs, repeat. John was hanging on the float and Browdie decided to check it out. And then jumped right on the float like he'd done it a thousand times. We're glad he's fearless about the water but hope that doesn't mean he will be too sassy to train :).
That night before bed, Tilley discovered that Browdie - despite his diminuitive size - is a "most worthy" adversary in the wrestling ring. He gave her a run for her money, and they took turns being the tough guy or the "help you've got me down" dog. Laika didn't mind as she was in the middle of her standard 2-day drive hangover recovery power nap.
A few videos to entertain:
The highlight of any puppy's early days...that first sniff of marsh across East Beach Causeway, that first excited pacing in the sandy parking lot, that first glimpse of white sand and THE BIGGEST POOL I HAVE EVER SEEN (Browdie's words, not mine) that comprises the first trip to the beach.
We headed out with the little Hodges (and their young Golden, Max) to get the last of the light. Browdie took to it like a fish to - well.
Then it was time to hit the water, where Browdie tumbled right in to the surf line as Tilley and Max chased Ann Marie and Sam all over. Laika wandered around, happy as a clam and not minding wearing two leis as Tilley's had worked its way down to her waist like a tutu due to all the bodysurfing action.
