After his retirement, he and his wife started raising Pomeranians. They are active people who love to hunt, fish, ride horses, boat and camp. Last year, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with all their friends and extended family. When he and his wife took a six month trip, I stayed in their house and took care of their thirty dogs. This wonderful man stands six foot, five inches tall. He is lean and long, with a full head of silver hair and a smile that always sits comfortably on his mouth and in his eyes. He has a way about him that makes people feel comfortable. He is also a great story teller.
One of his stories takes place when the kids were small in the late 1960’s. His youngest child was mad that his older siblings would not let him ride the horse, so he decided to run away. Instead of trying to make the kid stay, his dad said “OK. But it is getting dark. You had better take a flashlight.” The kid went to the cupboard for a flashlight. Dad walked him to the door. “It is supposed to be cold tonight. Do you want a coat?” The child went to the closet and got a coat. Dad opened the door and looked outside. “It is almost your bedtime. Do you want to take a pillow and a blanket?” His son went to his bedroom for his pillow and blanket. They walked outside. His dad asked him about supper. “You are going to miss supper if you leave now. Do you want some food?” Back in the house he went for a box of crackers. Dad was waiting for him with a wagon. “Here you go. It will be tough walking with all that stuff in your arms.”
As his son started down the driveway, he asked his son if he wanted to take one of the dogs with him for company.
So, he watched his boy walk down the dirt road with his wagon and the dog. His oldest son walked up to him. “Dad, you can’t let him run away from home!” His dad said “He won’t go far. He is not allowed to cross the road. So he either has to walk a circle around the section of farm ground, or go to the school bus shelter at the end of the road. Besides, the dog is with him and that dog won’t let anyone near any of you kids.”
He watched the child through binoculars until he saw him go into the bus shelter. After supper, when it was just dark, he walked to the bus shelter. His son was cold, tired and trying not to be scared. Dad told him that he was just checking up on him, that he didn’t need to come home. “But if you want to come home, I will walk with you.” I think the boy and the dog rode home in the wagon pulled by his dad.
He watched the child through binoculars until he saw him go into the bus shelter. After supper, when it was just dark, he walked to the bus shelter. His son was cold, tired and trying not to be scared. Dad told him that he was just checking up on him, that he didn’t need to come home. “But if you want to come home, I will walk with you.” I think the boy and the dog rode home in the wagon pulled by his dad.
