Tuesday Treats

Tyson was given a biscuit in the pharmacy today. I often have trouble getting him past the pharmacy because he is given biscuits by the people who man the lottery machine, and he is given biscuits by the pharmacists at the back of the store. The pharmacy is Tyson's scratch-n-sniff adventure playground. Everyone wished us well.

My last Tuesday in America was a day of kindness. After the pharmacy, the FEDEX truck driver held up traffic by simply stopping his giant FEDEX truck to get out and give Tyson biscuits. He shook me by the hand and wished us well. I don't know him and he doesn't know me, we've simply waved at each other for about 5 years as he drives around the neighbourhood.

Genti the Albanian postman and Sabrina the post lady all give him biscuits. Sabrina, an African American girl yells TYSON! from her truck and he loves her. Genti speaks softly, calls Tyson his friend and says we'll be ok. He says it in a voice so softly confident it is almost menacing. You will be okay. Look after my friend Tyson, okay? Okay, I say. I know these people from my daily rambles with the boy (oh yes, I call him the boy rather than the dog. Tonight I went for a glass of wine with Gregg, a man I know from walking Tyson here and there. The list of people who want me to call on them before I leave is longer than I could have ever predicted.

Today I met so many people who wished us well, and Tyson ate so many biscuits. It felt like It's a Wonderful Life with dog treats. It caused me to wonder if I was going to be lonely in those Alps. This would be so much easier if Sarah and I were fighting, and I want her to come too.

My brother has decided he doesn't want me driving after flying all night so they are going to spend the weekend in Milan and will pick me up from the airport. Suddenly he has reduced this journey to one flight. He is the very best of people.

It has been a long and busy day, and the days will only get busier. Tomorrow I take Tyson to the USDA-approved vet in Philadelphia to get his pre-travel treatment and the all-important paperwork. I wonder if they'll give him a biscuit? I'll report back.