2nd Wind, January 27, 1974
This has not been a newsworthy week. To give you some idea of how un-newsworthy...if I were publishing a weekly newspaper, the headline of the top story would be, "Barney Finally Gives." Thus headed, there would at least be an element of mystery: Gives what?...to the Red Cross...to the Blood Bank...to Toys For Tots...to the new Parish House? Although we are Congregational, surely anyone named Barney O'Rourke must be Catholic.
It all started with our realization that Barney, our least predictable dog, is slowing down, and has a worse disposition than usual. We always assure wary strangers that Barney only bites the people he loves. He'd also, after seven years of housebroken dependability, started lifting his leg to choice bits of household furniture (now less choice). We'd heard the latter could be a symptom of physical problems so we took him in for a checkup. The Vet discovered that Barney did, indeed, have a prostate problem, sent him home with medication, AND requested a urine sample.
Routine, I suppose, but how would YOU go about collecting a urine sample from a grumpy dog? We nailed a can to a stick. One person was to walk the dog, on leash, and the other to thrust the can at the critical moment. Barney's first choice for baptism was the galvanized pipe supporting the clothesline. George, the can thruster, in his haste to be there when it counted, whanged the can against the pipe, making a loud noise and completely distracting Barney from the business of the moment. Right then, the "can approach" was headed for defeat.
Wondering "what next?" we let Barney into the house while we ate breakfast. During clean-up, George spotted a puddle beneath the edge of the dishwasher. It proved to be the particular elixer we were seeking. Already late for work, George and I got down on our knees (not to give thanks, although that might have been a good idea, too) to gather the golden harvest with eyedroppers.Peace, Darlys & George
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