Shiloh, my Dad and the Tour

Well, I should have pictures - they are in my iPhone but I left it "run" which it apparently doesn't do, so I have no personal record of the Tour of Missouri passing my house. I do have the visceral rememberence, though. After multiple and more motorcycles, highway patrol, staff vehicles and the two leaders, the peloton went by - whoosh - one mass of separate cells, er, riders. They seemed so in sync, no one falling (thank God) and only one Silverwalk hound in the yard. Monk was quiet till he saw a single volunteer again - "bark, bark, bark." In fact, everyone was quiet while the race went by.

Almost had a hitch, though. Shiloh was out this morning making his rounds, of course. I was keeping an eye out for him and yep, true to form, when volunteers showed to set up for the race, there went Shiloh to meet and greet, welcoming them to the neighborhood. I zipped out with a leash as I knew he was going nowhere so long as he could schmooze with new friends. Shiloh reminds me of my father in that way. My dad had been a salesman. He could talk to anyone, anywhere, about just about anything. After retirement, if he went to the local store for whatever, my mom would give him half an hour. If he wasn't back, he was schmoozing and she would sent one of us to get him. It seemed as though there was always someone else at our home - friends, cousins, neighbors.....Everyone knew Bob, the Mayor of 18th Street in Sioux Falls, SD. Shiloh doesn't stay long on his visits. My neighbors just across the road say he will run up the hill to say "hi" especially to Richard, who used to raise and hunt Beagles. He would stay for a few pets, then be on his way as he has others to meet, greet and welcome.

So, the Tour of Missouri, Stage Two, is over - and a very, very, very small part of their stage was set by the Hound of Old Rt. V by name of Shiloh, making the volunteers welcome. Thank you all for sharing your talent and dedication with us. Ride on!