Chesapeake Bay smells and sea breezes

A couple of weeks ago we took Skylar and Tellie to Quiet Waters Dog Park in Annapolis.  It was Skylar's first visit and her head almost exploded with all the puppies she was able to play with.  She ran after dogs, knocking them over with one swat of her baseball mit sized paw.  Conversely, she was chased around and around until she tripped over her own legs and somersaulted head first onto her back, only to have her belly pounced on by her new found friend.  Tellie, who can't usually be bothered by other dogs, got so caught up in the action she danced in delight with her tail wagging like a metronome as she sniffed the butts of of similar sized smaller pups.

Yesterday, after another round of rough and tumble, Alexa and I walked them down the path to the bulkhead on the Chesapeake Bay at the furthest edge of the park.  Skylar had never seen water before and was mesmerized by not only the wide expanse but the sound of the lap, lap, lap against the pier.  Most of all she was taken by all the smells coming off the water as they were carried on the ever blowing sea breeze..  Supposedly, a dogs sense of smell is 400 times greater than a humans in which case Skylar's limited life experience was increased a thousand fold. I'm sure the smell of fish, the brackish water, the sea spray and the other things that collect along the shore was probably similar to what it's like for us as we watch a Technicolor movie for the first time when life bursts forth in all it's spectacular hues and shades.

Besides letting Skylar take all this in for the first time, it was also the first time making this familiar journey without Jersey. We had spent many hours watching the boats bounce across the water and the sea gulls dive bombing for small fish swimmng too close to the surface.  I could picture Jersey sitting next to me with her nose twitching in the air, catching the various smells floating across the Bay. Her absense was palbable even though I was watching Skylar to make sure she wouldn't charge into the water, chasing an errant crab or picking up an oyster shell.

Each first visit to a place I spent time with Jersey is hard.  Going to them with Alexa, Tellie and Skylar makes it easier but it doesn't soothe the realization the Jersey is not with us.  I do know that the first trip anywhere without her is going to be the hardest.  I also know that subsequent visits will be easier and easier as I adjust to life without her, especially when I'm joined byAlexa, Tellie and Skylar as we revisit those places that hold strong associations with my Jersey.