Out amongst them

There's nothing so cozy as driving through the rain with the heater and music on and a dog asleep in the back seat.  I saw one red-shouldered hawk on a telephone wire and a dozen turkey vultures weighing down a tree.  Nobody seemed to be concerned about the rain.

The county was putting on its annual volunteer recognition event - you know, speeches, good food, door prizes and awards.  The art program I offer for the maximum security boys at Juvenile Hall is a volunteer project and so is monitoring the parks, although that one has fallen by the side in the last several months.  But now that I'm starting a walking program I expect to be out there regularly, with a dog or two.  The three largest contingents were the folks who volunteer in the jails, parks and the county animal shelter.

I brought Demi with me because she spends as much time in Juvenile Hall as I do.  That makes her a county volunteer.  I should have filled out a slip for the prize drawing for her.  She might have won something she would really enjoy, a session at Massage Envy or even a manicure.  At home we call it playing beauty shop.  Demi loves to have her nails trimmed, her coat and teeth brushed and even a bath.

It was good to sit with friends and act like a normal person once more.