I tend to forget that I have a lot of kinfolk in this county. My mother’s side of the family extends waaaay back into the early roots of what is now Camarillo, California. My grandparents had a lot of siblings and therefore I have a lot of second and third cousins, direct and once removed. As if I can figure that stuff out.

I was at a gathering on Saturday, and a second cousin once removed recalled, as a child, visiting my grandparents at their old ranch and remembering a reproduction of the infamous painting of dogs playing poker, hanging on a wall. He remembers clearly my grandpa Reg’s delight at this picture.

I had a little burst of pride, for the love of animals in funny/humanesque situations is a love that courses in my veins as strongly as it did for Grandpa (and possibly for generations before that).

My mother was so fond of silly animals that, when she died, we included in her obituary:

Her interests included photography, computers, and funny dogs.

And then there’s me. And all I can do is offer up what I’ve been watching today, over and over. And give into a bloodline that is stronger than I am.