Rain or shine, most mornings I make my way to the dog park. One day I noticed an elderly man leaving his giant chocolate lab behind and driving off. My heart instantly sunk. What I first thought was him abandoning the dog turned out to be one of the sweetest daily routines I’ve come to love. The man, Sam, can’t walk Louie anymore so he drops him off at the park and drives the fenced perimeter of the area. Honking the whole way so Louie can “chase” him. I’ve started cheering Louie on each morning as he wildly runs after the car and know now that Sam comes back to throw a ball after a few minutes of car chasing. Sam wears the same outfit daily and loves to tell the silliest Grandpa jokes. He has a new one everyday and I can always tell he’s excited to share it. I’ve learned that his wife is in a care facility and he takes the same jokes there to “make the old people laugh”. If you are wanting to go on vacation but can’t at the moment I hope this little story reminds you that people, and places, are not always as they first appear. Go out and explore your town and learn to appreciate the details you’ve missed on the first go around. The full guide to my hometown area is almost finished on Wear to Wander and I’ll send out an email so you can discover one of my favorite places, too! LTKxMadewell LTKGiftGuide LTKFestival