Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for June 23, 2016

Hey what else you got to do?

Sherif, my sympathies for your loss. My Dad and I had a slightly uncomfortable relationship in his lifetime. As the years go by after my father’s passing, though, I see more and more how much I learned from him, how I am pursuing the same goals with respect to my adult kids, and generally holding to many of his values.

Walking my dogs, it takes an hour to go a mile. Sango will find every spot where a girl has peed and do a full CSI, followed by peeing on a nearby tree. Spicey will constantly search for things edible, and her broad definition incudes compost, dirt, sticks, bark, grass, fruit, you name it. Not bugs.

SherifI’m so sorry for your loss. It’s hard to lose a parent, it’s a part of your life story that is gone.

I don’t believe we’ve met Clover yet.She seems a little………..us……..slow.Focused, but slow.Ah well, there isn’t much going on in that end of town anyway.

Clover is a very studious dog.While other dogs are out chasing cats, she’s chasing bugs.Can she help it if bugs run more slowly than cats? After all, their legs are shorter.

And yes, she could outrun them…but wheres the sport in that?One quick bound, and she’s left them behind…. with nothing in front of her to study or to chase.No, no… the art of chasing something slow-moving is to   t a k e    y o u r   t i m e.Catching them has no point either.What will she do with one if she catches it? Eat it? Eeewwwww.No… studying bugs requires chasing them.Chasing them is a journey.The journey is the object and the end. The goal is to have no goal.It’s rather Zen.

She just wishes Warren would study philosophy too.BTW… out at the California end of Ballard Street we have another Clover.She’s on billboards.

I don’t think they’re kin, though.

Clover can’t help it, she’s a retired bedbug dog.

My girl don’t need no stinking bugs to slow her down.

Sherif – after reading the comments today, I went back to yesterday. So sorry for the loss of your father. I know how hard that is. What you said is so true and meaningful. Thanks for your insight and letting us in on it. You have a caring and loving family here at Ballard Street.

First order of business….Everyone’s first round is on me today in honor of the Sherif’s return. We welcome the return of Law and Order …or… sanity and decorum …er…-sense and sensibility-… Nah !! WELCOME BACK MUNKY!!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SheriF (Cheers to Yer HeROs!!) MunkyBluz

On a serious note, my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your Dad. It has been 25 years since my Dad died, a couple of weeks shy of his 81st birthday. but there’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. On hos 80th birthday I had a plaque made and sent to him that said " World’s Greatest Dad ". He treasured that..Ironically, I had purchased an airline ticket to fly back to surprise him on his 81st. Little did I realize I’d have to use the ticket to go back to bury him.

MY father and I had a close but prickly relationship when I was a teenager and young man. It wasn’t until years later, that I realized it was because we were so much alike and My Dad knew exactly which buttons to push with me.

I was in my late 30’s and was in the middle of refereeing a soccer match when I had my epiphany. I had just blown the whistle for a nasty foul and was giving " The Look and the Point " at the miscreant when it hit me " Oh my God, I’ve become my old man ! ".He should have patent rights on The Look and the Point = I saw it often enough growing up.Later that day I called Dad and told him what happened and that I realized I’d become like him. He laughed and said " What took you so long ? "

Take care and cherish your memories.Linguist

Sherif my condolences to you. Remember the good, learn from the not so good and pass it all on the next generation.

Snuffleupabug…

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, just thought I would share with my BS family…