The Cheese Flop (continued).

The road of life is full of twists and curves.  Sometimes when you find yourself in a curve it is better to accelerate than slow down.  Our most recent curve involved our golden retrievers.  About four months ago, we gave both of our dogs to a great family in northern California. "Ali", The nine year old, granddaughter of Jeannie, our office manager, had prayed consistently for over three years for a white golden retriever.  Her prayers and that of her amazing family were finally answered.  The night I gave Daisy and Rosey to them, I knew we would have to get a replacement.  

I tried my own discreet way to get a miniature, Goldendoodle. I still don't know if golden doodle should be one or two words.  Searching for a new dog is so complicated.  I have honestly never been a fan of small dogs, but I knew our kids needed to grow up around at least one dog. I figured I would take one for the team.  After all, our boys had lost some spring in their steps since Daisy and Rosie were relocated.

About a month ago under very tight, "Op Sec" procedures,  I started the search for our new dog.  I swore close friends to secrecy, and began making discreet late night phone calls.  I searched the internet and even put the Community Hub Mole on it to check with his operatives.  I was going to surprise the family on our wedding anniversary and Ryan's, eighth birthday.  A month later and I had not gotten far.  My secret mission was falling apart.  In fact, I slipped up.  Theresa saw I had left on the I-Pad, "history" the search term, "goldendoodles".  A mistake like that on the SWAT team would have resulted in me feeling pretty foolish. 

"Joe"

I was running out of time with Ryan's birthday only a week away.  Under intense smiles and excitement of Theresa, I cracked.  I confessed about my secret plan.   She immediately took over as Mission Leader.  Over the next three days I kept whispering to her, "Op Sec" when she would stumble and say something out loud or leave her emails to breeders or Internet searches open for the kids to find.  

Ultimately, Theresa's "Op Sec" was not very good at all and the overall mission was not tactically, "tight".  I kept biting my tongue because I wanted it to be perfect.  I kept thinking tactical operations always have to be a surprise.   Our three boys, Troy, Raymond, and Ryan soon developed an inkling their dog drought would soon end.

It was early in the evening when we brought them into the living room and said,  "we want you to meet one of our new clients".  We pointed to a covered laundry basket in the middle of the room.  Raymond was the first to shout out before the blanket was removed, "it's a puppy".  It was certainly not a round being fired from a fortified structure, but it went right through both our hearts anyway.  Just the way he said it.  Their astonished looks, smiles, yelling, and emphatic hugs of "Joey" or "Joe" for short was priceless.  Time slowed slowed down as we watched them celebrate.


Later in the day, I commended Theresa on what a terrific Mission Leader she was.  Objective was achieved, no injuries and all team members were home safe with their families.   That' is after all why we signed up.


Have a great week!
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