On a recent fall day, several friends gathered at the home of Franklin resident Joan Bledsoe. It was a normal Thursday afternoon, and Bledsoe had snacks out for her friends and the domino table ready for a game.
Bledsoe is 91 years young and full of life. Despite battling cancer, she feels good and sticks to her routine of taking her dog Bobo to the dog park at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm each week. Bledsoe loves seeing her friends and her dog loves the interaction of the other dog friends.
However, Bledsoe’s routine got interrupted by the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in September when the dog park was closed for a week. With several weeks’ warning of the park’s closure, Bledsoe went to work on Plan B.
That is when she decided to move the dog park to the backyard of her house. Bledsoe conveniently lives on Franklin Road near Harlinsdale Park so the move was still convenient for her group of friends, and now it’s part of the weekly schedule each Thursday.
“I told my friends that I have a big backyard and to just come on over and bring the dogs,” said Bledsoe.
Bledsoe says she has known most of the regulars five years or more and just became friends through conversations while the dogs are at play. The group includes people like Tony Barnes from Thompson’s Station, Tina Issette from Brentwood, Mike Brevots of Franklin and even a local judge, Deanna Johnson, who likes to take her dog to the park each week. The group is from all walks of life and different backgrounds, but one common bond is their love of dogs. Sir Lancelot, Ray Charles, Rocky, Katie and Waylon, along with Bobo, love the interaction.
“We are always expanding our membership,” laughed Bledsoe. “I meet so many different people through the dog park. Peppermint Patty is not here today; she is another one in our group.”
“I met Joan there and we struck up a conversation,” said Judge Johnson. “I found that I had a lot in common with Joan and we became fast friends. And our dogs love playing with each other and she invited me over for dominoes and we have been doing this about once a week when I can make it.”
Bledsoe, who doesn’t mind talking politics with the group, said her family suggested she should write a column called “Ask Granny.” “I don’t always agree with everyone, but we are all friends,” said Bledsoe.
“But I like to discuss politics, local or national, and my grandkids always ask me about current issues. I just say ‘Ask Granny’ and I am happy to share my opinion.”
Once the dogs are occupied, the group starts with their competitive game of dominoes. Joan Bledsoe takes her dominoes seriously, and at 91 she is very determined on beating her friends. “They are my friends but I still like to win.”
The game of dominoes in the backyard has been a nice change of pace for the group. Facing a closed dog park for a week has turned into a weekly event for this group of friends and dog lovers.
“This group of friends, I just love them,” said Bledsoe. “We were not going to let the dog park closing for a week keep us down.”
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