More than a thousand days ago …

Mummy took me to a place called New York City.  In September 2012, we spent five weeks there and I saw many new things.

I wasn’t sure about this very big city.  None of the dogs seem to want to talk to me – they just seem to be in a hurry and never really stopped to say hello.

There was the very large Central Park near where we lived but it wasn’t quite the same as Hyde Park in London.There are rules there – if we did not make it to the park before 9am, dogs have to be on a leash.  Otherwise, before 9am, there are dogs galore – everyone out for their quick “freedom” run/walk before being put back on the leash again.We were told there are doggy parks – so Mummy went in search of them and found this one next to the Museum of Natural History.All a bit concrete to me and I was actually afraid of all the dogs there. I did not want to get off the bench where Mummy was sitting. I did not want to leave her side.

There were also other rules – CURB YOUR DOG signage everywhere!  I soon learnt how to read them.The streets were busy and we walked to most places because we were never sure if the bus driver would allow us on the bus and most taxis wouldn’t take us. We also weren’t sure if it was ok to take the subway. We sure did walk a lot.

It was definitely a no-no to ANY restaurants.  I sat a couple of times outside of the barrier when the humans sat outside to eat.  I wasn’t used to sitting on the other side of the barrier from Mummy – so on one occasion, I snuck in under that barrier.Each morning Mummy went to get breakfast, I had to be tied up outside – it seems quite a common thing to do but Mummy was always worried and had other people keep an eye on me.

When Mummy had things to do she boarded me at Biscuits & Bath.I didn’t like that either and as soon as I saw Mummy coming to get me, I couldn’t wait to jump over the divider to get to her – GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!We did some interesting things together – Mummy had never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge all the years she had lived there – so before she said goodbye to NYC for the last time (as a resident) – she wanted to do that with me.  We lived in an apartment in Manhattan which was on the 20th floor – it’s very high up for me.  I saw things from a different perspective.  I could see birds in flight – lots of them. It got me all excited and I would bark at them.Mummy always kept a watchful eye over me whenever we were on the terrace – she was always afraid I might just leap over the railing. I had not done agility then so probably wasn’t inclined to.  It would have been a very long way down.  I would have been squashed tomato.But the five weeks spent in NYC was a special time for us.  We woke up each morning and sat on the terrace having breakfast as the sun rose.And we went about doing things each day. If I couldn’t go I stayed with my Aunty May-Mei and my cousin, Molly.Many friends came to visit over those five weeks – for the last time in a place Mummy had called home for almost a decade.  We often sat on the terrace and watched amazing sunsets till the skies were dark and the candles were lit.
Slowly with each passing day, every room became emptier –
Till the last day when we left …When it was time to close the door behind us.When we first arrived in New York City, I didn’t know why we were there. I did not like being there much. But when we left, I knew one thing – Mummy needed me then and I was glad I was there with her.

May’s comment:  This was the view from our apartment in New York City – a view, I never tire of seeing. This was the last sunset from a place I called home for almost a decade. Lovely memories, fabulous home but time was up – and it was onward and forward.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t easy to say “goodbye” and I was really pleased I didn’t do it all on my own. Darcy was right there with me every step of the way.  And Darcy has been there with me since then – going through the ups and downs of life.

I want to take Darcy and George back to the States – L.A. in particular – how to do so? A plan in the works. 😉