Traveling with Samwise and Emily

On our walk to the Saco River today.

Good evening.

Some of you have asked how Samwise and Emily responded to being home.

"Were they excited to get home?"

"I can only imagine how thrilled they were to be home."

There have been several questions and comments like these.

I will give you the answer to those queries, but first, it's only right I finally tell you what it is like to travel with them.

Due to an unpleasant experience with her foster family in their van, Emily does not like to get into Clarence. I open the door, and Samwise jumps in. On the other hand, Emily stands a few feet away and looks about in every direction as if she is studying the universe. She calmly does this, ignoring as best she can that we are going for a ride. It's as if she weighs her options and tries to decide if it's worth her time. She goes out of her way to look everywhere but at the open door. It's comical, really.

This is an everyday occurrence. Not just when it comes to road-tripping.

In the beginning, she a…