Easin' Along

It was love at first sight…

Helen and I had not had a dog in our home for nearly twelve years. When we moved from our previous home into a small neighborhood, we lost the land where our dogs could roam at will. We were still employed and couldn’t even think about leaving our formerly free pets in a garage or crate during the day.  Fortunately, we found a good home for Chuck and Max (below) on a farm south of Knoxville. Our cat, Wilbur, moved with us, but he was a confirmed housecat. We decided to remain dog-less.

As the years passed slowly, I began to think often about getting another dog as a companion. We were into RVing now, so a dog could complicate things, but I couldn’t shake the thoughts. What breed would work for us? Did I want a puppy? Big and boisterous, or small and cuddly? Long hair or short?

Finally, I decided to look for a male English Bulldog. I soon learned that English Bulldogs are very expensive from a reputable breeder, with costs running up to $5,000 or more. Therefore, a puppy was out of the question, but I was in no hurry. A rescue would be best for me. Also, I was going to be very picky about his looks. He had to have a perfectly wrinkled face with no pronounced underbite and a short, squashed nose. I even had a name picked for my future friend…Mortimer. The search for the perfect Bulldog took several years.

I kept looking online and in the newspapers. About five and a half years ago, I was browsing pet listings on Craigslist when I saw a picture that stopped me cold. A family in Easley, SC, posted a picture of a one-year-old Chocolate and White English Bulldog available for adoption. There was a rehoming fee, but it was in the hundreds, not the thousands. I responded to the ad and asked the current owner to contact me. Several days passed before I received an email from Kristen saying the dog was still available. I called for additional information. At the end of our conversation, I told Kristen that I would let her know something within the week. The hard part was yet to come…I had to get Helen to buy in.

I walked into the room where she was busily working on things and announced excitedly, “I found Mortimer!”

“What are you talking about?” came the reply.

“I found Mortimer; come see the picture.”

After staring at the picture of this lovable hunk of a dog, Helen walked out of the room muttering, “I don’t think so, at least not now.” I explained that I hadn’t made any plans, but that I would let Kristen know within a few days, though he might be gone soon.

About ten minutes later, she walked into my Man Cave and said: “Just go get him, and Happy Birthday.” I called Kristen and left the next morning for Easley, SC, near Greenville, SC, three hours away.

Kristen met me at a Tractor Supply near her home. As soon as she pulled up and opened her car door, a chunky and very huggable Bulldog with a perfect Bulldog face walked eagerly in my direction. It was meant to be, and I teared up at the sight of him. Kristen said his name was Brutus, but I kept my naming plans to myself. We bought some food in Tractor Supply, then headed back to Knoxville. The newly named Mortimer slept soundly in the back seat of my truck.

Helen greeted our new roommate and reminded me that Mortimer was MY dog. I would be in charge of walking him, feeding him, and other assorted pet-ownership responsibilities. Nevertheless, I could tell she was smitten. It soon became obvious that those two bonded well.

Mortimer adjusted quickly and soon joined us on our RV travels. He was perfectly suited to RV life, sleeping in the truck and taking command of the couch in our fifth-wheel camper. He made five trips across the country and to Florida, plus several short trips closer to home. I loved the way people reacted to our little love sponge in campgrounds. Mortimer loved people and was always eager for a love pat. On the beach, he was a “chick magnet.”

During our trip home from California in June of this year, we noticed an ugly sore on his shoulder. I called our veterinarian, who prescribed some medicine. Despite our vet’s best efforts, the condition persisted and spread. In late August, my vet referred me to an animal dermatologist. We sent skin samples to a pathologist for study. The results were devastating—Cutaneous lymphoma, a disease so rare that there is almost no opportunity to research it or find a cure. The disease is usually fatal within six months. Mortimer made it through five, and was barely five years old. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday (10/12/2026).  A piece of me crossed over with him.

It will take many months for me to get used to life without Mortimer around. He was always under our feet, looking for a hug, a love pat, one of his toys, or his next meal. Saying I miss him misses the mark completely.

Damn, he was a beautiful, lovable friend.

July for us began in California. California, as a whole, was enjoyable, pleasantly cool, and comfortable. Barstow, CA, was hot and dry, but still the best place for us to spend one night on our way to Las Vegas for six nights. Our home for those nights was Desert Eagle Campground at Nellis Air Force Base. The heat followed us there—-110 degrees (or higher).

On our first full day at the campground, we hardly left the trailer except to take Mortimer for walks and to finish setting it up for a six-night stay. Late in the afternoon, we decided to drive to the Las Vegas Strip to try our luck. Helen did well, and that’s all I’m saying. We stayed home on night two to do some cleaning and organizing for the long trip home and to watch some World Cup Soccer.

On night three, I felt brave enough to venture into a casino once more, but I wasn’t going back to the Strip. It’s too busy, and I thought a new location might improve my odds of at least breaking even. We decided to try the area around the Fremont Hotel and Casino in the older section of Sin City.

The Plaza in front of the Fremont stretches for several blocks and offers covered space and access to many bars and entertainment venues. It’s also a fun place to spend an evening away from the heat. The Chippendales were performing near the Fremont. I offered to purchase Helen a ticket, but she passed. The gaming tables were a bigger draw.

We did passably well that night and returned for one more during our stay so I could give it all back. Despite coming up short, I still had fun and learned that Fremont Plaza is a good alternative to the famous Vegas Strip. I recommend it to anyone planning a trip.

In the campground, we were treated to a brilliant Fourth of July sunset and watched the Washington, D.C. fireworks display on television for an exciting conclusion to our time in Las Vegas.

Our route home usually follows the same path along I-40. We drive to Flagstaff, AZ for two nights, then Albuquerque, NM for two more. Next comes Amarillo and Oklahoma City. On previous trips, we have followed Oklahoma City with a night near Ft. Smith, Arkansas, but we learned that the electricity was out at that campground, so we drove a bit further east to Edens RV Resort in Pottsville, Arkansas. The reviews were very good, and we agreed with everything that was said. Edens was a new campground, but the owners were doing everything necessary to make it successful.

From Pottsville, we made it to Parker’s Crossroads in West Tennessee for one night before the long drive to Knoxville. We were home on July 17. I was pleasantly surprised at how green everything was. After spending three months without a drop of rain after leaving in April, Knoxville appeared green and lush. I later learned that a lot of rain had worked its way up the Tennessee Valley.

Shortly after arriving, word came from Carter, our favorite grandson, that his volleyball team won the AAU Under 15 national championship in Orlando, FL…quite an accomplishment. They never lost a match throughout the tournament.

As soon as everything was put away and our fifth-wheel camper returned to storage, I made time for my exercise class. It felt great to stretch my legs after so much driving.  Helen returned to her pottery class, her pickleball pals, and the church choir. Mortimer gathered his treasure trove of Teddys and assumed his favorite position under Helen’s puzzle table.

We had a wonderful trip, but there’s no place like home. Thanks for stopping by.

Helen and I agreed that we had taken our RV to California enough over the last few years and wanted to plan a trip across another part of the country. Nevertheless, we learned early this year that Bennett, our granddaughter in Charleston, SC, would play with her team, Low Country United, in a National soccer tournament in Norco, CA, in June. Since our oldest son and his family live within an hour of the tournament site, we saw it as a chance to spend some family time and agreed that an RV trip elsewhere would have to wait. We went all in.

After eight lovely days in Coronado, CA, we moved to the Navy campground at Seal Beach, CA, where we have camped many times. Our son and his family live about 20 miles north in Redondo Beach. Carter, our grandson, was scheduled to play in a volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the weekend we were there, and we attended his matches on Saturday and Sunday. Carter played very well, and his team won all of the matches with BeBe and Big Daddy in the stands. We also squeezed in a trip to the Long Beach Farmer’s Market on Sunday—always a treat.

Collin and Bennett arrived in California the following Wednesday and joined the family at Hennessey’s Tavern, Hermosa Beach, my favorite pub in the South Bay area. Emily, my niece from Knoxville, attends law school at USC and joined us there with her friend, Olivia. We had a large amount of fun on the patio next to the Hermosa Pier. The breeze coming off the Pacific was delightful.

The soccer tournament began on Thursday, and Low Country United faced off against a team from Murfreesboro, TN. United took care of business, 5-1. Bennett, a center midfielder, played great and got an assist on the first goal. Over the weekend, United played in two more matches against teams from California and North Carolina. Wins in both matches sent our girls into the semifinals. United flashed “W” signs, as did a bunch of very proud parents.

Between matches, Helen and I hosted the family at our campsite in Chino, CA, in the very lovely Prado Regional Park. Bocci Ball, Frisbee games, and Cornhole kept everyone entertained. Pancakes and bacon kept everyone fed. Justin and the family camped next to us. We don’t get opportunities like this very often.

In the semifinals on Monday, United was matched against a team from New York…it was not a game for sissies. Both teams played a hard-fought, physical match, but alas, with five minutes remaining, the New Yorkers scored the only goal, sending United home with a 1-0 loss. Many of Bennett’s teammates had played together since early childhood, but many of them were moving on to other teams or other sports, so this was the last game they would play as a group. Tears were shed by several.

After the game, many of the team members and parents gathered at Honors Sports Bar for dinner and to watch World Cup Soccer. The place was packed. Bennett and a few of her teammates climbed a small mountain overlooking Norco and snapped this picture. The sting of the semifinal loss had abated by then. The flight home was good as well.

Helen, Mortimer, and I had reservations at Prado until Wednesday, hoping for a shot at the finals, but most of the team rescheduled flights a day early. We canceled our last day as well; packed up, and drove to Barstow, CA for one night on our way to Las Vegas for six. Saying goodbye was tough, but we had a wonderful experience saying hello on this trip… it doesn’t happen often enough for these two bi-coastal grandparents.  It’s on to Vegas, baby! Join us there.