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Grandpuppy - October 2009
It is said that having a dog is excellent training for becoming a parent. And I do not doubt for a moment that is true. I also find that your child adopting a puppy is in fact excellent training for becoming a grandparent. Janine and I have proven that to be true, thanks to the arrival of the newest member of the family, Scout.
Scout was named after me, in an indirect way. Shannon and Paul named her after the character "Scout" in To Kill A Mockingbird, whose father was Atticus Finch, who in the movie was portrayed by GREGORY Peck.
The job of any Grandparent is to shamelessly spoil the grandchild, making the work of the parents that much harder. Here is a transcript of an actual conversation between Shannon, Paul, Scout and I illustrating that concept:
GREG: Good dog Scout! See the way she always comes to me first!
PAUL: Sure, any dog would go to someone holding bacon.
GREG: Just a coincidence. Won't your mean parents give you bacon Scout, well you just come to your ol' Grandog for that stuff!
SHANNON: Dad, she is supposed to be on puppychow! And how come you were way more strict with me than with your Grandpuppy.
GREG: Just because I didn't want you to date until you were 43 doesn't mean I was strict. Here Scout, have a sausage. And...whoops! Paul, Shannon, your dog just made a mess.
Luckily Janine is her normal practical self keeping us all grounded. She was not able, however, to participate in the conversation above because she was shopping for Scout's Halloween costume.
Scout is not only the newest member of our family, but also the newest member of the Lawless Partnership. She'll be doing useful things around the office, like, um, uh, looking cute and stuff. Next time you visit us, bring a dog biscuit! Or bacon.
