Willeke traveled back to the Netherlands this spring to visit her family, alone, because the cost was prohibitive for her husband and two children to also go. Her dog, who hangs out near her office, was so troubled by her absence that he spent the entire time going from the restaurant up to their home at the top of the hill, and back again, not understanding where his beloved owner was.

The other was told to me by a very nice english couple who are young, but on a 13 week vacation to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma. I am so impressed that they are doing this now, instead of old like me, in the precarious state of being right up against the decline of physical capabilities post retirement.

His Uncle got a border collie puppy from a farm in Great Britain. When the dog was young his Uncle went away on a trip, and the border collie turned up missing. It was found some time later back at the farm where it had been welped, out in the field herding sheep.

I have gone in the sea snorkeling and free diving morning and evening for nine straight days. My evening swim last night (August 31st) was not the best because the combination of a southern current out at the reef, plus a very high full moon high tide reduced the visibility. I was the only one out there. I am thinking I will forgo the evening swim today, September 1st, and save my energy so I don’t get sick before my journey home.

The thought of packing up and going on the boat trip to Manado, then a ride to the airport, and the first of four flights to my home and my dogs is something I am getting excited about. Beau, Hayley, and Jess look good based on what I can see on the web cams, and they get a walk everyday from Andrea. I just want to get back into our simple life, walks on the greenbelt, looping around to get coffee at Starbucks, where I get a sausage bagel to split between the three of them. I want to sit on the couch and share popcorn with them while we watch a movie, then tell them all what good dogs they are, and goodnight, ‘see you tomorrow.’.