I guess you thought it strange the way I just disappeared.  Well, it all happened so fast I didn't know what to think.  Your daddy took me to the Vet who said I was in good shape except my teeth needed cleaning.  Then he took me to my groomer.  They have always been good to me, but that day they were especially kind and loving.  They kissed me good-bye just as if they didn't think they would ever see me again.

    Early the next morning, before the sun came up, your daddy picked me up while I was still sleeping right beside you.  If I had known what I know now, I would have wakened you and kissed you good-bye.  It was still dark outside when your daddy put me in his car and we drove to the airport.  Little did I know that one of those planes I watched from my deck - taking off and landing - would someday have me as a passenger in a little gray cage.  I was so scared I thought my heart would stop.  Your daddy seemed very sad as he told me to be a good boy and he would see me soon.

    The next few hours were a nightmare.  They carried me in a case (I would say my cage, but I don't want to have anything to do with it again) and put me in a plane - in the back part with the luggage.  I knew I was in trouble when I saw a note on that cage that said, "Please do not feed until after 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time."  The noise was terrible and it was very cold.  Your daddy had given me a little pill that made me drowsy.  Thanks to that, I don't remember very much until my plane landed in Columbia, South Carolina.  They took me off the plane and put me on a merry-go-round.

    Now, you are not going to believe what happened next.  That merry-go-round was still moving and when I turned a corner, there stood my mother's friend whom she called Liberty.  Don't you remember her?  She came to California three times last year and took care of my mother and me.  The first time she came she brought her dog with her.  Her dog was old - a Dachshund.  She was sweet enough, but she didn't like to play.  I just left her alone for the most part.  She slept an awful lot.  I remember thinking, "I hope I don't get like that."  I guess that's in store for both of us if we live long enough.  I don't know what happened to her dog, Sassy, but she didn't come back the next two trips.  This suited me to a tee because now Liberty showered all of her attention on me.  When she took me out for a walk in the morning and late in the afternoon, we didn't have to wait on that slow dog.

    Well, back to my strange journey.  As soon as she espied the case she and a new friend began squealing and they took me out of the cage.  I thought they would smother me with love.  It felt so good.

    I'll write to you again soon.

                    I love y'all
                    Christmas

P.S.  The "y'all" is a Southern expression.  I'm catching on fast.