Meeting Bandit — A New Adventure Begins

I wasn’t looking for a puppy. Really. I wasn’t.

I had spent the last few years learning how to build a life I loved. I was running races, traveling in my RV, exploring new places, and saying yes to experiences I once only dreamed about.

When I lost Babe a few months ago, I wasn’t planning on adding another four little paws to that life.

And then a friend sent me a picture of a litter of puppies.

One little detail caught my attention.

These puppies were born on my birthday.

Sometimes life sends you things you weren’t looking for.

And sometimes those things end up becoming exactly what you needed.

The Puppy I Wasn’t Planning On

The next day, my daughter and I went to see the puppies.

You know how this story goes. You tell yourself you’re “just looking.” You have no intention of making a decision. And then you sit on the floor surrounded by puppies.

I left that day without making any commitments. At least, that’s what I told myself.

A few days later, my friend called. She had already reserved two of the puppies and thought maybe I would want the second one.

And somehow, without really planning it, I said yes.

Choosing Bandit

I picked him up on September 27th.

The timing was intentional — I wanted him to have a few days at home before we left for a trip I already had planned.

He has a little black mask around his eyes, and that became the inspiration for his name.

Bandit.

Of course, not everyone was immediately convinced this was a great idea.

The cat was not impressed.

She stood at the end of the hallway, staring at this tiny new creature like she was trying to understand exactly what I had brought home.

And at this point, she is still bigger than he is.

Adjusting to Puppy Life

The next few days were exactly what you would expect with a new puppy.

Lots of sleeping.

Lots of chewing.

Lots of learning.

We were both figuring out this new routine together.

And then there was the timing.

Because within days of bringing this little guy home, we were leaving on a month-long RV adventure.

Two half marathons…Multiple states…. A whole lot of miles.

And now… a puppy.

Hitting the Road

We left a few days ago — headed south east. Bandit rode up front, safely buckled into his carrier seat, and handled the trip better than I expected.

Most of the time, he slept.

(Which, honestly, was probably the best possible travel companion behavior.)

We stopped along the way to have dinner with my grandkids, then continued south.

Even on the road, I was still trying to live the life I was building — good food, new places, and experiences that mattered.

We spent the night in Kentucky and made a stop at Purple Toad Winery along the way.

Jekyll Island

Today we arrived at Jekyll Island.

Tomorrow morning, I will be running the Under the Oaks Half Marathon.

I picked up my race packet, walked around, and took in the fact that this trip is already looking a little different than anything I had done before.

I had trained for the races.

I had planned the route.

I knew what I was getting myself into.

What I hadn’t planned for was doing it all with a puppy.

Because this trip isn’t just about two half marathons.

It is the beginning of a whole new adventure.

One tomorrow.

And another waiting for me down in Cocoa Beach next week.