Last year, I took my dog, Carmen, with me to the sea in Maryland to visit a friend.

The town had a doggie park and each morning and evening I would walk her down a local street.

Being a friendly little dog, she made instant friends along the way and last year, she became a recognized ”buddy" at the home of one of the families on the street.

Family members often sat outside on the porch and when I waked by with Carmen, they would come down and make a big fuss over her, taking her tip the steps to sit with them for awhile. Carmen, of course, responded with attentive licking, kissing and tail wagging..

Each day when we passed their house, Carmen was a little star, offering kisses and licks to whomever was on the porch. When the family left to return home, Carmen was definitely affected, walking slowly past the empty home each day, stopping, looking around, wagging her tail, looking up at me and asking why no one came outside anymore so she could offer kisses and licks and tail wags.

I tried to explain that the family had gone home and that she would see them again one day but I never knew if she could understand what happened to her “shore family and friends."

I kept in touch with the family, and when I returned to the Maryland Shore this year, I learned, the family will be down during some of the time I am here. I told Carmen and she was so excited.

We once again walked down the street and she had a little reunion with one of the family members who came ahead to get the house ready for the season.

Carmen was so excited, her little butt was shaking and her tail wagging while she kissed and licked one of the family members.

Everyone will arrive in August and it will be a grand reunion when all the family comes down and Carmen is reunited with her much loved shore family.

Now, Carmen walks past the house with a skip and a tail wag, somehow knowing that she will be reunited with everyone again soon.

Debra Malinics