The South Marysburgh Mirror! PR A Dog Named Gator By Bill Brearley wo months ago my wife and I moved to "The County". Within a couple of weeks we had met our neighbors and their large shaggy dog named Gator. The previous owner of our property had encouraged Gator to visit in order to keep the foxes, rabbits, and raccoons out of his garden. Gator has a natural hunting instinct and if encouraged, will supplement his diet of dog food. Gator is very sensitive about his name; he likes it. We became, I thought, friends. Meeting a similar shaggy dog named Bowser one day, the new name stuck in my mind. While petting Gator behind the ears one day, I inadvertently called him Bowser. "Grr!" remarked Gator, A SURE WAY TO START # HAPPY DAY Happiness is something we create in our mind It's not something you search for and so seldom find. It's just waking up and beginning the day By counting our blessings and kneeling to pray. It's giving up thoughts that breed discontent, And accepting what comes as a gift heaven sent. It's giving up wishing for things we have not, And making the best of whatever we've got. and moved away in a menacing manner. | immediately assured him that I was not a raccoon and then I realized the problem. An apology was in order. But with Gator an apology was not enough. There was to be no more scratching behind the ears and rolling on the ground (the dog that is). A few days later when he came over to inspect his occupied territories, I called out "Gator". A disdainful fling of the head was his response. Sometimes a dog's forgiveness comes very hard. Perhaps he think's he's a person! Well, since then, we've greeted each other on several occasions, but, if he were French, he might say as the Quebec license plates do, "Je me souviens" It's knowing that life is determined for us And pursuing our tasks without fret, fume or fuss. For it's by completing what God gives us to do That we find real contentment and happiness too. - Helen Steiner Rice MANANAAANAANAAANAAAAANAAAANAANANANANAS VIANNA 5 : * When you save to buy something for a very long : time, and then find you can't afford it, that's : > inflation. EK ANAAANAAMAAAAAAAANAANNAANAAAAAAAAAA WAAMAAAAAAANAAANANANN