A Year Older Means A Year Wiser

By Editor | July 22, 2026 |

By Sweetie
Herald K9 Correspondent

I have decided on my strategy for the Watermelon Carnival this year.

Stay inside.

I am another year older, another year wiser and even more certain that a German Shepherd wearing a full fur coat has no business attending an outdoor summer event in Mississippi. This is not laziness. It is careful planning.

That does not mean I am not interested in the carnival. Water Valley is my town, after all, and I enjoy watching it get ready for company.

The signs are cleaned. The grass is cut. Flowers fill the downtown planters. Banners go up, sidewalks are swept and people begin carrying folding tables from one place to another with very serious expressions.

I admire all of it from the car window, preferably with the air conditioner blowing directly into my face.

I also enjoy watching my human rush around getting ready.

Carnival season brings out a special kind of rushing in her. She prints things. She checks lists. She loses the list. She finds the list underneath another list. She walks from room to room carrying a camera, two bags, a stack of papers and the expression of someone who has remembered six things but forgotten the seventh.

As usual, I provide emotional support. Sometimes I follow her from room to room. Sometimes I lie directly in the path between the printer and the desk. Sometimes I sigh loudly so she will remember that she has a dog who has not been consulted about any of this.

This year, I am approaching Carnival with the wisdom that comes from experience. I know the heat will be impressive. The Mississippi sun does not simply shine this time of year. It leans down, says your full name, and asks what you have to say for yourself.

The humidity will be waiting too. It will wrap itself around every person who steps outside and follow them from the car to the park like an overly affectionate wet blanket.

Humans will still go. They will stand in the sun, carry lawn chairs, eat hot food and say things like, “It really would not be bad if there were a little more breeze.”

I am absolutely certain that inside with the air conditioning is where I belong. While others are enjoying the music, food, contests and visiting, I will be at home carrying out important responsibilities. I will monitor the front door. I will keep the couch from floating away. I will inspect every sound made by the refrigerator.

I will also wait.

Because this year, I have been thinking about funnel cake.

I have never personally sampled one, but I have gathered information. A funnel cake appears to be fried dough covered in powdered sugar. This is the kind of simple, sensible recipe I can respect.

There are no vegetables hiding in it. There is no parsley placed on top for decoration. Nobody is trying to make it healthy. It is honest food.

The only problem is that funnel cakes are usually consumed at the carnival, while I am stationed at home in climate-controlled comfort.

Surely, though, one could travel. People bring home leftovers all the time. Hamburgers come home. French fries come home. Small pieces of chicken have been known to make the journey. Why not funnel cake?

I am not asking for an entire one. I understand there are rules about sugar and fried food and dogs who have already had supper. I am simply wondering whether a tiny corner might survive the trip. Perhaps a piece no larger than my paw.

Maybe two paws.

This seems like a reasonable request from a dog who has spent another summer watching my human rush around.

I am proud of Water Valley. I am proud of the flowers, the signs, the music, the people and the way everyone works together to put on a celebration year after year.

I am also proud of myself for knowing what I like. I like air conditioning. The people may gather in the heat and humidity. I will be inside. Another year older. Another year wiser. And still hopeful that my human remembers the funnel cake.

Posted in Herald Columnists