THE CHAPLAIN

I needed to be in the shower right now. Instead, running behind as usual, I was hustling to finish chores at the barn. I needed to be at the airport when my daughter's plane came in at 12:55 p.m. It was 10 a.m. and Daisy, my 10 month-old Rottweiler, could feel my excitement. Carrying a piece of old, dried horse hoof, she would dash at me, then veer off at the last moment, daring me to try and wrest it away from her.
I ignored her for a few minutes, rolling up the water hose, locking the barn door, and then started for the house holding my right hand down and out from my body a little. Sure enough, after I took just a few steps, I felt Daisy shove her slobbery treasure into my hand. I took time to kneel down and give her a hug. She leaned into me and put her face against mine, turning and touching me with her cold nose. It was Daisy’s sign of affection – instead of licking.

Oh, how I loved Daisy. Seven months ago on Mother's Day, Ronda gently put this three-month-old, big eared, bewildered, black puppy in my arms with a grin as big as Texas on her face. Now at almost 90 pounds, she was a far cry from that skinny, uncoordinated newcomer.
Rottweilers are a lot like children. They learn what they live and like a child, you have to raise them with love and discipline, continually earning their trust and building their self confidence. Keeping them with you is a huge responsibility but the rewards are boundless. I hugged Daisy one more time and headed for the shower.

Out of the shower, dressed, impatiently waiting for my son Freeman who is next door at his Grandmother's getting ready, I looked at my watch. It’s 12:03 p.m. and he had promised to pick me up at noon. True, the airport is only five minutes away and in Spokane, if the driver stays in the car, you can park in front of the terminal. Realistically, we had plenty of time.

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