Wet Dogs, Swimming Holes & Some Norman Rockwell Inspiration

Sam & Emi in one of our swimming holes.

I know our New England drought is nothing compared to what's happening out west, but our rivers are running lower than I've ever seen them. Thankfully, a few swimming holes are within walking distance where the river eddies and gathers between boulders and is deep enough for us to splash and swim about.

At these moments, stoic Samwise breaks character by flying his freak flag while immersing himself in play. Emily is found of retrieving rocks I throw into the river. I marvel at how long she holds her breath while looking like an aquatic ostrich, her fanny and curled monkey tail pointing to the sun while she studies the rocks below the surface. Now mind you, Emi never comes out with the one I tossed, but that can be your and my little secret. What matters is that she believes she's plucked the exact one from the depths.

Samwise's role in the curious version of fetch is much like the center on a basketball team trying to block the inbounds pass. Si…