Hiker's First Grooming

I was having a dream last night that I could not find Hiker anywhere. The only thing I can figure is that it is because I was leaving her at the groomer for the very first time today and I was worried about her being there alone and being scared without me nearby. When we got up, we went up to Sam's club to fill the Corolla with gasoline and then headed over to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. I had to get Hiker a new Nylabone. Her last one was down to about half the size it was when I first bought it for her. When we got back from Wal-Mart, we went for a 1.5 mile walk. It was already 70° when we started out at around 9:15 am. Took Hiker to the groomer and she got scared the minute we walked inside the shop. She tried to turn and go back out the door, but when the people who work there came to pet her and talk to her, she seemed OK. But as they took her toward the back of the shop, she kept turning around and looking at me like she was asking “why am I here and where are they taking me?” She looked so sad. I think I was the one who was more nervous about her going. The house seemed so empty without her when I got back home. Now I know how she feels when I leave her home alone to go to my grief group. It took them about an hour and 15 minutes to groom her. The bathed her, dried her, brushed her, trimmed around her “private parts”, cleaned her ears and trimmed her toenails. The put a pretty little scarf on her and gave her a cookie. When I got there to pick her up, they told me that she did really great, which made me very proud of her. They went to get her out of the kennel but she didn't want to come out, so they called me back there and the minute she saw me, she got happy and was ready to come out and go home. They told me that I should bring her in every 6 weeks or so and they will trim her nails for free. They said she should be groomed about every 8 weeks. It cost $30 so I didn't think that was too bad for all they did. Plus I didn't have the hassle of trying to get her into the shower and her peeing all over the place. I won't feel so bad the next time I take her in.