I am sad to say we will not be able to come. Miss Hoppy has an upper respiratory infection that she has had for quite some time, and it is slowly getting better on two kinds of meds twice a day - which takes two of us, and we don't feel we could leave her alone for three days. She does not like car rides, so bringing her with us for a 13-hour ride would not be a good idea, we wouldn't want her to feel worse than she already does.

We were so looking forward to going, and especially meeting all the new people who will be coming, and seeing the friends we have met before once again, I was looking forward to baking the dog-safe and people-safe cookies and everything.

But Miss Hoppy will turn 11 years old sometime this week, and with her being sick, we just don't feel we could leave her alone.

(She hates the vet's office, and doesn't allow anyone but me to hold her without struggling, needs her meds twice a day, and her nose cleaned up - she doesn't use tissues like a human would - so boarding her with someone is not an option.)