With all the traveling we do together, this was the first time the heelers had ever stayed in a motel.

With just me.

With the whole family, sure. With me and the wife, sure.

But just me?

This was a new thing. And not good by the looks on their faces. I'm sure they were thinking I was some kind of idiot for working so late into the evening.

"If we had just gone home two hours ago we'd be having dinner with our Alpha, and sleeping next to her."

They're at that age where they really don't like changes to their routines.

Not to mention the blind masked heeler didn't know where the water was, where the bed was, or even the walls for that matter.

They had no way of knowing their Alpha wasn't at home waiting for them...

As we drove down Main, I realized it has been decades since I've been in Regional Town during the holidays...

I stepped out into the middle of Main for that shot above, intending to capture the warm Christmas glow of their decorations. Wasn't 'til afterwards that I saw the image actually looked a little stark.

Just the same, they had the Spirit, if only in unique fashion...