We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:53:29 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I walked out to the end of the driveway at 5:30 yesterday morning to pick up the Daily Fishwrapper and, in the half-light, saw this. It's a three-year old Japanese tree peony. Nothing that should have stopped me in my tracks except a. tree peonies around here don't bloom until the end of May, or -- with the cold nights we've been having here -- early June; b. the previous evening, after I'd wrapped KC in her bedding for the last time and put her next to Boots and Saddles deep in the back garden, I'd passed the thing on... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html Fri, 05 May 2006 02:12:34 -0600 *sniff* Option B. *hunts for kleenex amongst the blog reading supplies only to find Brawny paper towels* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44964 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44964 Sat, 06 May 2006 23:27:53 -0600 Welcome back! I was about to send you an attendance notice... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44960 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44960 Sat, 06 May 2006 22:15:44 -0600 I've been REALLY, ***REALLY** BUSY the past month, but I decided to take a few minutes to catch up... Now I'm all choked up. Crap. Good dog. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44959 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44959 Sat, 06 May 2006 22:08:26 -0600 *sigh* Some things are meant to be, Bill. Some signs are truly gifts from God. My Mom was baptized as an adult, on Easter Morning. It was a cloudy day, but right as the pastor was marking her forehead with a holy water cross... a beam of sun came in and light up around her. It was magical. Like I said, some things truly are a gift from God... like friends so close you consider them your twin. Hugs to ya, Bill. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44888 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44888 Fri, 05 May 2006 21:39:38 -0600 The second option, of that I'm certain. Anyone who's ever lost a canine friend knows how much they looooovvve you and would indeed move the outer reaches of logic and gravity, Heaven and Earth, to be able to ease your way one more time, out of pain and into remembered gratitude that you(luckily) had them in your life. And will again. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44870 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44870 Fri, 05 May 2006 13:58:37 -0600 Intellectually, I say completely random anomaly. But it's much more comforting and uplifting to believe the second. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44860 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44860 Fri, 05 May 2006 12:40:29 -0600 What a sweet gift to you and KC both - it's obviously option #2, Bill. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44853 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44853 Fri, 05 May 2006 11:12:18 -0600 I'm with Neff, Chief(ret.). What a better way for Ol' K.C. to let you know that he's O.K., and how much he appreciated you and his pack of four-legged-friends down in Joysey. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44852 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44852 Fri, 05 May 2006 10:52:42 -0600 When I was 20 years old a couple of college "girl" friends took me to see the movie, "Where the Red Fern Grows". Really embarrassing for a 20 year-old young man to come out of a theatre crying like a baby. To anyone who's ever owned a dog, that movie is a must, and shows some of the magic you write of, Chief. Know this, that blossom is for you - designed primarily to stop you in your tracks. I encourage you and all Castle readers to take the time to smell the roses - or in this case - the Japanese Peony. Cheers, ML http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44850 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44850 Fri, 05 May 2006 09:48:49 -0600 I believe it, Chief. It can't happen that way; shouldn't happen according to science, reason and logic- but science, reason and logic don't actually govern this world. Those things are human constructs and mean nothing to a dog... or a flower. It's a beautiful thought, anyway. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44839 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44839 Fri, 05 May 2006 09:01:38 -0600 the subject of this post. I'm with option B, Bill. But you knew that without asking.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44836 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44836 Fri, 05 May 2006 07:24:30 -0600 I'd like to go with option two. But my feelings about four leggers are best summed up by this quote: "Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed Beauty without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the Virtues of Man without his Vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over humanb ashes, is but a just Tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog" - John Cam Hobbhouse Sorry for your loss. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44832 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44832 Fri, 05 May 2006 06:10:54 -0600 CW4BILLT, re: blossom ...are you blaming Mr. Hokey Pokey? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44830 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/your_mileage_may_will_vary.html#comment-44830 Fri, 05 May 2006 02:38:43 -0600