Cousin Ray treks to Edgewater from Kentucky to the delight of Koda and Lela

Recently I heard from my cousin in Kentucky that he was going to drive down and spend the day with us here in Edgewater. Of course, I was very excited. I hadn't seen him in a few years so the thought of spending a day with him was great. I truly didn't expect the pups to remember him since his last visit was also just a day.

Miller Family photos / At far left, cousin Ray with Pat Miller and Lela on the couch and Koda sitting on floor. In the inset photo, Koda sings to cousin Ray. 

I was so very wrong on that. As the day drew near, my pups knew something was up as I was putting a little more effort in the house cleaning. I even was able to get the day off from work which I really did appreciate. Finally, Saturday arrived and about 9 a.m., my cousin pulled into my driveway.

How the pups knew, I will never know, but they were at the door all excited.

When I opened the door, my cousin had a very hard time getting in the house. Both Koda and Lela were jumping up and hugging him. Fortunately, my cousin happens to like the pups so that was a good thing. As soon as I would get one down the other was jumping up hugging and kissing.

When I opened the door, my cousin had a very hard time getting in the house. Both Koda and Lela were jumping up and hugging him. Fortunately, my cousin happens to like the pups so that was a good thing. As soon as I would get one down the other was jumping up hugging and kissing.

My cousin was laughing, and was pretty surprised at how well they remembered him. I finally was able to get the pups to let Ray come in and sit down. Then they were both trying to sit in his lap.

While my cousin is pretty tall, having two wolf dogs trying to sit in your lap at the same time is pretty hard.

At far left, cousin Ray being hugged by Lela and at right, by Koda.

Lela finally got on the couch where she could snuggle up to Ray's face while Koda took over the lap. Finally we were able to slip out of the house and spend some time together. I took my cousin over to my work so he could see the great shelter I work at. Then we drove over to Ponce Inlet to tour the Lighthouse and have lunch at the Lighthouse Landing Restaurant.

Leaving there, we headed over to Oak Hill to the Manatee deck. We didn't see a lot of Manatees but we saw a few and even some dolphins. There was a nice breeze blowing that made things a little nicer.

We headed back to the house were Koda and Lela were impatiently waiting for us. As soon as Ray sat down the pups were right there with him hogging all of the attention. My cousin lives in Sonora, Ky, in a rural area. He enjoy's the more simple lifestyle and just coming out to spend the day is just up his alley.

We headed back to the house were Koda and Lela were impatiently waiting for us. As soon as Ray sat down the pups were right there with him hogging all of the attention. My cousin lives in Sonora, Ky, in a rural area. He enjoy's the more simple lifestyle and just coming out to spend the day is just up his alley.

We did a lot of catching up and talking about family. Ray was my dad's favorite nephew and my cousin Ray felt the same way so in some ways it was like having a great brother visit.

Unfortunately, he had to leave on Sunday morning. While most people think it would be crazy to spend 13 hours driving to spend a day with someone, both Ray and I would do it in a heartbeat. So as he headed back to Kentucky The pups and I had some great memories to hold onto until we can get together again.

Howls.

NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world.