Thanks to petlover, Freddie,joannapv,Dreps and JimB for your messages since I last posted. We haven't heard yet but I will chat with Debbie tomorrow. Ann says "Wow! They all sound like such nice people.!" And it's great to hear that one of you is a neighbor and another has several friends taking this cruise. I'll be in touch as soon as we hear.

Now, as for Molly the Bijon Frise:
Neither Ann nor I grew up with dogs nor did we know enough to get one for our girls. Six years ago Ann announced she needed the dog experience and had read a lot about a breed called Bijon Frise. My response was "Are you nuts? The kids are grown and gone and we have nothing tying us down. Ask your friends about raising a puppy at your age." Once I had relented, I said "You can't get a bichon. That's a cat-dog. No man can walk down the street with a cat dog."
Molly came soon after. After a few weeks of "She's your dog" I saw that this little gal had more personality than I knew, that she greeted us like we'd been away for a month when we returned from the store, that she had a range of noises that amounted to carrying on a conversation, and that she expected to be treated as an equal member of the pack.

I caved. I've been her "senior adviser" (certainly not her master) ever since. I treat her with the utmost respect. She treats me as if I'm God.

They said she would need just a walk around the block for exercise. Hah! We walk the mile plus to the Post Office before my breakfast (but not before hers) and she starts her multi-range jabbering in late afternoon which means she wants an off-leash run at a nearby boys' school. Then she comes home and follows me around. If I read too long she stares at me and makes comments.

Fortunately we have found a groomer who loves Molly enough to board her in his home when we have the effrontery to cruise, or whatever.

Everybody should have a dog. My kids should have had dogs to come home to after a bad day at school. I now like all dogs, especially bichons, who are impossible not to spoil.

All the best, Jim&Ann