The Family Reunion That Never Ended

So I was at this big family reunion last week. My sister brought along her kids and their two dogs, which are these energetic little terriers who seemed to take up half the living room already. Anyway, there were so many of us there, cousins, aunts, uncles, even my great-grandmother made it! It was nice seeing everyone again after all this time apart due to lockdowns and such. But there was one moment that really got me down. You see, ever since I retired three years ago from teaching high school English, I've been trying to get back into painting. I used to love doing landscapes when I was younger, not a prodigy by any means, but always had an eye for color and perspective. Anyway, over the last few months, I've really gotten into it again. I set up my little easel in our living room, away from the dining area where everyone gathered for meals, so that I could still be part of everything while also having some quiet time to work. Now, this wouldn't have been an issue if not for one thing: every time someone left their dog unattended and they'd run over to my easel. The first few times, I was just a bit annoyed, 'Could you please keep them away?', but as the day went on, it became a recurring theme. They would knock off colors, drip paint everywhere, ruin brushes... It got to the point where I didn't even want to be there anymore. I mean, I love my family and everything, but sometimes they just don't think things through. The final straw came when I was working on this beautiful sunset scene, you know how those golden hour colors blend together so perfectly? One of the dogs must've thought it was a chew toy or something because by the time I noticed what happened, there were paint chunks all over his fur and face. Not to mention my painting. It was ruined. I couldn't just sit around fuming forever though. I tried explaining again but no one seemed to listen, they just kept laughing it off as 'cute' or whatever. In the end, I packed up everything before dinner and went out for a walk alone to clear my head. That night, back at home, all I could think about was how much of that old passion had been trampled over. I suppose next time, I'll have to bring my brushes elsewhere. It's not like anyone meant any harm by it. But after all these years, I still feel so protective of something as simple as a hobby. Sometimes, being surrounded by loved ones can be bittersweet.