5/23/07

We loved Lucy

Tri-O's
Oddities, observations, and opinions

By Herb Kandel

An old maxim states that a camel is a horse designed by committee. If that is so then it must have taken at least two committees to have come up with the mold for Lucy, our eclectic pet.

At first glance she might have been mistaken for a dachshund as her elongated body with somewhat disproportionate short legs gave her that appearance. But her head and snout resembled a Chihuahuas’, except her ears; the cocker spaniel kind that lapped over. Her chest was that of a bulldog, thrust out and proud. Her short hair had the color of a chocolate Labrador, which, after she had her bath, shone like a seals’ coat. Boston terrier brown eyes peered at the world ever alert for perils that could befall someone whose peepers were only 3 inches above the ground. To complete the picture, when this canine montage walked, her squat front legs swung in semi-circles as she waddled forward duck-like. This was our little Lucy.

She was a rescue puppy. We were told she had been neglected to where she was left outdoors in all weather at all times to pretty much fend for herself, to the point of foraging for food in garbage bags.

That was almost fifteen years ago. She was our constant companion in all the places we lived and in every hurricane evacuation. She was accepted by our mostly schnauzer, Bonzer (she too was a rescue hound) and later Lucy welcomed Daphne (yet another pound puppy - mostly soft coated wheaten terrier). Because of her size and disposition she was always the Beta to the other dogs. Over the years as her siblings passed on to The Rainbow Bridge in the sky and others became beloved family members, she assumed the role of Grand Dame. Independent and aloof she garnered the respect of her new, younger, and always larger siblings. She rarely played with the other two but when it happened it was she who initiated the action.

If Lucy had been an entrant in a canine pageant she would not have been a nominee for Miss Congeniality. But she would have had a good shot at Miss Loyalty, Miss Sweetness, or Miss Quiet Companion. She had a way of sidling up to your dangling hand when you were sitting and then rubbing her head against it, side to side, which always reminded me of an elephant-like gyration when they roll their heads. In her younger days, when her body and legs was more supple, she would skip up the stairway to the second floor. Her stubby back legs providing the propulsion while the front ones reached out; but with her circular gait it looked like she was doing a land locked breast-stroke. And when she descended she took on the appearance of a slinky slithering down step to step.

As the years went by they took their normal toll. Her face and paws showed at first a hint of gray later more so, the vanilla encroached the chocalate. She slept longer, deeper, and more often. She balked at steps and had to be carried down and up. Because of her early puppy hood hunger her appetite never waned, until near the end. For several months she had been receiving fluid injections to prevent dehydration and to flush waste products through the kidneys, as she was experiencing chronic kidney failure.

Our vet, a caring Dr. Bill, said it was time to let her go. Body functions were shutting down and nothing more could be done without additional suffering. So on May Day she was held lovingly as she slipped away - first to a peaceful sleep and then to eternity.

There is a bond between humans and animals but especially with those pets who provided personal companionship, love that was unconditional, acceptance, and a sharing co-dependence each day.

There is an empty bowl now at meal time, a vacant bed at the foot of ours, a leash that hangs limp on a hook, and a space in our hearts that is currently occupied with only memories. Our quaint, funny looking, sweet Lucy, who graced our home for all those years, I know is having her head rubbed by someone somewhere. And when I think of this, as is oft times, it brings back a paraphrase of the Beatles song “Lucy in the sky with -- Bonzer and Daphne”

End

http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2007/05/24/columnists/doc46534edb797a3076728230.txt

5/9/07

Flip the tassel, YOSOHK '07


Tri'Os
Oddities, observations & opinions
BY Herb Kandel

Thank you, Ye Olde School of Hard Knocks Class of 2007 for inviting me once again to address your commencement exercises. Every effort will be made to keep you awake and make brief the forthcoming, slightly acerbic, pearls of whim and wisdom.

As you know, your class is the one where the average age is mid-40s, or there about. You have made life experiences count toward the credits earned for the conferred degree of Bachelor of Survival. Your alma mater boasts the likes of nine presidents ( Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland and Truman), John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Bill Gates, Ralph Lauren, Julie Andrews, Agatha Christie, Davy Crockett, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Ray Kroc and Claude Monet, to name a few. In addition, let us not forget Eminem and Yogi Bera who once said, “You can hear a lot just by watching.” None of the aforementioned received a formal college degree, and some were dropouts. Alas, even Albert Einstein was a high school dropout who taught himself calculus and had to retake special exams to get into college, having failed the first attempt. You are in good company, relatively speaking.

You all have risen to this plateau despite, or in some cases, because of the hardships encountered during the way. You adapted and prevailed over the surly boss or the family situation, which might have brought you down.

Most of you here know of the recent best selling book “The Secret,” by Rhonda Byrne endorsed by Oprah. However, long before “The Secret” was “The Strangest Secret.” You, dear graduates, were putting into practice “The Strangest Secret,” as set forth by Earl Nightingale.

Nightingale had a radio show, “Our Changing World.” It was the most highly syndicated radio program of its time, spanning more than 40 years up until his retirement. He was heard daily, across the United States and 38 other countries. Some of you may remember him. He was an inspirational speaker, a motivator, and a philosopher (well before Tony Robbins, Depak Chopra, and dare I mention — Donald Trump?). He had a deep somewhat gravelly voice, which resonated confidence. In 1957, he intoned six magical words that formed a blueprint for living and obtaining desired success, those words became a defining moment in many lives.

He said, “We become what we think about.”

This thought was culled from a book by Napoleon Hill, and embellished, almost to a mantra, by Nightingale. Again, “We become what we think about.” Think about it.

He called it “The Strangest Secret”because of its‚ irony — “that this truth of why we become, whatever it is we become, is no “secret” at all, and therefore, it’s “strange” that we don’t all know about it!”

He went on to say, “Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us.”

You new graduates have mastered this positive attitude because you had direction, focus, and knew where you were going. Despite obstacles, this inner compass combined with courage, advanced you to your destination. You discovered that even though you may not be the next “American Idol” or win the lottery, you don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy or successful. You already know that your success is based upon the realization of a worthy goal or ideal attained in a steadfast manner (remember the tortoise and hare race).

As for the future: define what is most important to you. Ask yourself two questions then answer them, “Self, what do I enjoy doing? Can I, and will I, be content and enjoy doing it every day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and beyond?”

When you have your answers and put them into practice, you will then have become what you think about, be it merchant, mogul, meanderer, or the best ________ (you fill in the blank).

There is a short Chinese poem : This one makes the net — This one stands and wishes — Would you like to bet — Which one gets the fishes?

In closing, the words of Earl Nightingale, “Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!”

— And from me: “Remember to floss.”

Congratulations Class of ‘07.