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Sunday, May 28, 2017

Sunday Sermon And Hoots

Let's begin with a clip of Hoots reciting his poem 3 years ago, "Hoots on Dogs & Humans":



Hoots (origin clickable here) was built by me, and was named in reincarnation of a beloved childhood hand puppet. Problem with hand puppets is they begin to wonder about their own anatomy at some point and begin looking under their clothes. Inevitably, they find they are little different from gloves,  their primordial ancestors, and their naked bodies are human hands.

Poor hand-puppet-Hoots began to worry about self-determination, especially after following my arm from his hem to me. Disillusioned, he started to fall apart and finally was no more. I didn't think too much about him until high school graduation when my whole class dressed in gowns. We all looked like hand puppets and I was afraid to look down --there might be an arm!

Years later, I got married and had children for whom I didn't buy hand puppets. We got a dog instead, a happy Shepherd-Labrador to romp with the kids and, if necessary, bite unwanted intruders. She is long-buried out back, under a concrete slab that reads "Protected and Had Fun".  The children grew up and found other rompers, we never replaced our dog --but lately, I've thought about it because I'm tired of dashing out and biting intruders myself.

Your regular pastor will be back next week or whenever the veterinarian gives him clearance. What's that? No, your regular pastor was vaccinated for Parvo --it's not that. Go thou and do likewise. 

23 comments:

  1. What then indeed.
    Protected and Had Fun is a wonderful epitaph. Who could ask for more?

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    1. Puppy --we never thought of another name for her-- was truly a gentle dog who put herself between kids and danger, and really did nip 2 prowlers on the butt.

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  2. I had a good chuckle at the thought of you rushing and snaring all the way to bite the intruders who so rudely encroached on your territory. We always had at least one dog to protect the children.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed sermon, Emma. Dogs are great fun and fearless protectors, part of the family.

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  3. Hoots is a deep thinker. You done't often find that in a collection of used parts and electrical wire. I'd like to believe we all think for ourselves but with the long arm of the government affecting all areas of our lives, maybe we should all look down and check for an arm.Could be we are all nothing more than a collection of sock puppets.

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    1. Thanks, Delores. In all honesty, I did look down my graduation gown, if only to be honest about work history on future job app.s --have never had to start with "sock puppet". Good thing too.

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  4. It was so much fun reading this and listening to Hoots' public speaking! Thank you for the smiles today.

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    1. My pleasure and privilege, Jenny. Your smile is my reward.

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  5. I love Hoots! Is there a fan club? And I'm certainly glad I didn't encounter your deep thinking at an earlier age or I suspect I would not have been able to wear a graduation gown. Yikes!

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    1. Just think how the Pope must feel! I'm always relieved to see a full-length photo with his own feet in it.

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  6. Dear Geo., to have a dog again might be a lot of fun! (Though not in my huge apartmentin a huge city, still being a traveler).
    Handpuppets: I had a wonderful Tiger - "Struppi" - who accompanied me for a long time. Many years later (I'm not a woman with teddies on her bed...) I gave it to our little son. Sorry to say: someone saw that it was a quite valuable "Steiff"- animal - and nicked it - from a child! Hope Struppi dashed out and bit the intruder!

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    1. Dear Brigitta, was Struppi one of the Luvas Sisters who used to appear in circuses here when I was little? She worked with tigers --memorable. I would bite the thief myself!

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    2. Oh, now I had to use Google - till this moment I did not know that also a Circopedia exists!
      No - Struppi got his name from "struppig", I think ((scrubby? fuzzy?) though he was a very well-behaved guy (and talkative - when my father had him on hand, and put it into his crook of the arm, I believed as a small child that Struppi could talk. And I was so proud that he had visited with me so many countries! Well - nothing is forever... but I still see and hear him in my memory.

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  7. Oh dear. We really can't have you chasing intruders away by yourself. You have much more important things to do, like philosophizing and learning lessons from the critters around you. Might be time to get another dog, dude. You could even get an older mutt. You know, a new pal to sip a beer with you while considering the meaning of life. It IS a dog's life, after all. He might even teach you something. Fun post, as always.

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    1. Dear Susan, you're quite right. Robert Benchley wrote:"A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance and to turn around three times before lying down." Even I, a boy of 67 could use a refresher course.

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  8. Okay, this post made my morning! Loved the video of Hoots and your droll humor, Geo. You are one of a kind!

    A dog might be fun, but it is definitely a big and expensive responsibility. I had a beloved Scottie, MacBeath, once, but I've never replaced him. During my career years I felt that I didn't have the time to devote to a dog because I had to be gone long, long hours, and now I am still in a phase where I don't want any commitments.

    Have a good one, my friend!

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    1. Thanks, Louise. I share your reluctance regarding canine commitment but I'm getting tired of biting prowlers and intruders myself. Some of them taste just awful.

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  9. Hoots is amazing and I luv the video!!!!
    He recites poetry beautifully. Now, if he can do dishes, mop floors...and bite intruders..... I'll hire him.

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    1. Kind Jon, I wish Hoots could do all those things but, when I get him to try, his legs fall off. I suspect he's just lazy and untightens his hip-bolts when I'm not looking.

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  10. Obviously, Hoots was on the verge of senscience. A few more years and who knows where he could have gone?

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    1. Indeed, Susan, Hoots' capacity to perceive, reason and feel are still under review but he's sure more poised than I reciting poetry.

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  11. He is well-crafted and well-spoken. I am impressed! And not to diminish him at all, but Hoots reminds me of the show Mystery Science Theater 3000--which I have always loved. He does seem to be far above that kind of juvenile humor, though.

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    1. Thank you, Amy. I will pass on your kind compliment to Hoots --even a robot needs to feel pretty sometimes.

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