A Nostalgic Touch of Humor
| Publication year | 2019 |
| Pages | 29 |
| Citation | Vol. 88 No. 10 Pg. 29 |
November, 2019
The dog, the fur and the bar foundation auction: a Hallmark story
by Matt Keenan
It would be wise to disclose at the outset that this column has nothing to do with family law, oil and gas, product liability or premises liability. There is no CLE offered for the five minutes it will take to read this month's column.
You will learn something, however. You will learn about Bernie, Hadley, Sunshine and one John Gerstle. Two dogs, a cat, and a prominent Johnson County criminal defense attorney whose dress style is reminiscent of iconic stores like Barney's and Brooks Brothers.
Still reading? Good.
So permit me to start with the dogs. It was May 4, 2017 when our dog of sixteen years, a Wheaten Terrier named Bernie, went to the place where all dogs go. That left us the cat—a feline who was given the world's most inappropriate name—Sunshine. Apparently Stormy, Windy and Blustery were taken. Sunshine was a rescue addition that our son Robert received from a female acquaintance during middle school. Robert's "friend" left the family picture, but the four legged addition remained for another ten years.
I'm not a cat person. I guess I'm open to the notion that some cats like people. Just not Sunshine. She avoided humans and pretty much everything else. All dogs go to heaven. Cats?
Still under discussion.
But I digress.
The kids left, the college funds were drained, and for a brief moment, the house grew quiet. Sunshine lived upstairs and was seen on full moons. On rare occasion, my thoughts turned to Bernie and her blissful habits.
But then the day arrived. It was December 1, 2017. I had just walked in from work. My wife was sitting in the living room, and invited me to sit down on the adjoining couch. This was one of those times when a direct message was headed my way. I steadied myself.
She paused, extended her hand, and let me have it. "I want to get another dog," she said. As anyone married can attest, with holy matrimony there are two kinds of discussions. Those you debate and lose, and those you don't even debate. This was category two. Plus, deep down, I missed having a yes man. I went into negotiation mode. "If we get a dog, I'd like a winter dog," I said. "A big dog. Something we can take to Colorado. Something that likes the snow." She nodded. The ship had just left the harbor.
Eight...
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