Flags, Wine and Helium

They don't go together. Not really, but they do signify the end of this reunion for me.

Every year the reunion honors the dogs that have passed in the preceeding year, but this year all 600+ that were part of the group since its beginnings five years ago, those gone as well as the survivors were honored by having their names posted on Tibetan prayer flags and having their names read. Each person read the names listed on the flag he or she held. That one little name, Rondo, was so difficult to read without tears, which then continued for the other dogs on my list. The flags were strung together and mounted on two poles, so we could look at them all. This was our second visual reminder of the number of dogs who have gone through this group. The names were also posted on a banner that hung in our meeting room.

The end of the Bone Cancer Dogs reunion. Did I end it with tears? With sneaking out so I didn't have to say goodbyes? I had to end a serious day with the sillies to restore balance. Nothing profound. Nothing I'm proud of, but different than I've played the rest of this weekend. Finished the bottle of wine (there was only a little) and sucked in a little helium for entertainment.