Dear Dude and Doodle: I totally blew it. I'm sorry, Christmas is cancelled.
Our Surf Dog Diaries crew in a previous parade. Photo: Richard Hallman, Freelance Imaging
It's a 3 dog night at the Hood River holiday parade with Elvis the nose rider, Dude in the middle next to Snoopy and Doodle on the tail. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
I am sorry kiddos, but for the first time in more than 20 years, we are not surfing down the street in the Christmas parade Friday night.
I am so bummed.
We'll miss all those amazing kids on Oak Street in Hood River as we roll by.
And miss singing carols as they light the tree.
Cowabunga Christmas! Making friends, hanging out, hanging 20 toes on a surfboard - now that's what it's all about. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
The parade rig is packed, parked and ready to go – I know you’re up for it - but I have a week-long work commitment and I’m stuck on the east coast. There are no flights to get me back in time.
Elvis, Doodle, Dude - and a couple of BFF's. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers DogDiary.org
I am SORRY! We have to make it up to the kids! I have to make it up to you!
Elvis never met a kid he didn't immediately fall in love with.
Think of all those years of memories...
Here in Oregon - one year it snowed, one year it was icy. One year it rained and a couple of years it was oh, so cold.
One year Dude could see, and the next he could not.
And still, we surfed.
And still, we had a blast with the kids.
Back in California, in the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade, we used to roll with the OB Geriatric Precision Surfboard Drill Team and Gidget Patrol - boy, was that a hoot!
Elvis and Dude started their land board- and water surfing - career at (where else) Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA. There, we chaired the Dog Beach Committee of the Ocean Beach Town Council and marched with the OB Geriatric Surf Club. Photo (c) Barb Ayers DogDiary.org
Whether we drove our fully loaded surf dog float, or I hauled you by hand down the street in the surf wagon express, every single moment was magical. More to come.
I wouldn't miss it, unless I really had to. Dog-gone it! My bad.
Miss you boys; (and I miss you more Elvis, it’s our first parade without you.)