In Which Lizzy is Blessed (Again)

 

We've returned home from one of the more unusual and fun activities at our church: the annual Blessing of the Pets, held on the patio on a Sunday afternoon each autumn. Last year was the first time our family had participated; we'd never taken Blackberry because he was so huffy around other dogs. Lizzy is okay with other dogs so long as they aren't too big. 

We'd expected to miss the event this year as we had a major family gathering on the schedule for this weekend, but once again Covid intervened (at the other end this time) and our get-together had to be postponed. So a little bit before three, we all got in the car and headed back to church. 

Our Lizzy is on the nervous and needy side; we sort-of-kiddingly told the pastor he'd have to do a better job this year because last year's blessing hadn't really taken. Joe wondered if perhaps we should skip the blessing and go directly to an exorcism.

There were two people and two dogs on the patio when we arrived, along with the pastor and the vicar; by the time things got started we had perhaps three more dogs, one geriatric chicken, a photograph of a cat and apologies from a guinea pig who had another commitment. The dogs were fairly well-behaved, if a bit on the noisy side and the chicken seemed nonplussed by all the commotion. The people got to know each other's furry and feathered friends. We sang, we prayed, we blessed and we laughed and at the end we promised to return next year.