Dogs About Service - "Christmas Trip"
Written from the perspective of Arby
and transcribed by his owner Clark Roberts.

Christmas had us loading up the family van and heading east bound from Bellevue to Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, a journey that this vehicle has made many times since we have family there and visit them fairly often.

Now this particular morning it was a bit cold, but was a sunny, bright beautiful December day and all were scurrying around like squirrels collecting nuts, each on a mission and not paying much attention to me, Arby the dog.

To be fair, yes I did get my morning treat and that was all good. I did notice that dad had loaded my bag full of food and all of my other items necessary for travel so all was good for me.

Now the family completed loading the van and it was time to hit the road. Everyone took their places and I took mine behind the passenger seat on the floor and settled in for a 4 hour road trip.

As the van headed out of the driveway and soon to be on I-90 East, I had visions of visiting Idaho in my head. Oh, yes IdeeHo and yes we were on the road again. I wanted to stick my head out a window and let my tongue hang out and enjoy the fresh air. But it was way too cold and my window does not go down!!! So I enjoyed the scenery from inside as it went screaming by at 70 mph.

As my family enjoyed music and laughter in the van, I would sleep and dream of IdeeHo. You see one of the families we visit has a dog named Cody (he’s my cousin!) who is about the same age as me, but his lineage leaves a question, as well as his manners around me, or should I say lack of manners!! Oh yes, I will have to mind and that will be hard as Cody will want to go run and play and play some more in the backyard. Usually once we’ve run around his yard about 15 times, we will come into the house to just lie around and sleep. That is, until Cody instigates a wrestling match; okay so I might have a little to do with that!

Well, I had been told that this visit was gonna be a little different since we weren’t staying at Cody’s house this time, but instead we’re staying at a different family member’s house. As I lay there taking this all in, I thought, "This is going to be very peaceful and relaxing." You see this family member has my "sister" retired guide and she is a bit older than me and is not gonna want to play just sleep and look at me and give me advice about what it is like when you get to be like her.

Upon entering this house in Cd’A, I was a bit surprised when I heard a small yip and a little furry thing came running by, hit the skids and said, "Howdy, who are you, my name is Dasher, I’m a 10-week old Heins 57 mainly Chow-Rottweiler-St. Bernard mix, who are you and what is that funny thing on your back and why are you wearing a metal collar and let’s go play and can I have your bone, do you wanna play chase, wanna help me pull on Lacey’s leg, can I have your kibble, do you like water, do you like to run outside and chase cats can you grab your tail or your back leg, do you wanna chew on shoes, do ya do ya do ya?!!!" All of this was imparted even before I could ask what happened to the quiet house with the retired guide dog?

So all in all it was a wonderful Christmas. Santa Paws was good to me and yes… Christmas was a little different this year as it was run over by a little ball of energetic fur!!!

Clark Roberts spends his time sharing a message of hope and encouragement with people of all ages through "Ultimate Vision", a non-profit corporation. Clark has spoken to thousands of people, teaching awareness and diversity education. His goal is that every person learn to embrace their potential by finding the gifts and abilities that each of them have.

Clark is married with 2 children, enjoys writing, is an outdoor and sports enthusiast, and loves to downhill ski, tandem cycle, water ski, swim and hike.



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