Day 472

Back at the veterinarians' for an ear recheck. Almost clear! Sam was incredibly well-behaved for our visit. It almost seemed like he was reminding me that he was worth bringing home again! Poor baby!

Arriving back at The Big White House, fall had arrived! In other words, preparations for the first varsity football game of the season were underway. You can almost feel the energy escaping from the bowl. Music blasting, teams warming up, the band off in the distance and fans arriving in droves were all responsible for the excitement I felt in my heart.

My father was on the first team to play at Goodrich Field back in 1932! Years later, I was a proud member of the marching band and my own children followed me... instruments in hand. We sat on the front porch with the Goldens for a bit and, when the excitement proved too much for those sensitive ears, we brought them in and decided to head across the street.

Grabbing a couple of chairs, Mac and I set out to join neighbors gathering by the fence... which we have done for generations. Chatting with old and new friends, family and strangers, it felt like the beautiful community that Anoka is. Joining the older crowd was our young neighborhood gang who (mostly boys from 2 to 11) played their own tackle game on the grassy hill with the "village" looking on. It was just about perfect!

I believe the importance of bonded neighborhoods is beyond important in this day and age. We are the village it takes to raise the honorable leaders of tomorrow. Our commitment to one another is heartwarming. If neighborhoods, like the one on Christian Hill, could share love and empathy in that smaller entity, couldn't we all find a way to band together and exponentially make this world a better place? Also, there would need to be dogs...lots of dogs!