Homage to Dr. Suess

I vividly remember being curled up on the top bunk reading our well worn copy of The Cat in the Hat. It was a book that I could read early on and one that made me feel like a 'big girl' because it was longer than most books in my collection. What kid doesn't like Dr. Seuss? You feel like you are singing a song when you read his books out loud, and his illustrations put a smile on the most sour of faces.

I grew as did my love and respect for Theodore Geisel. His books send poignant messages, teach life long lessons, and challenge us to look inside ourselves for what we may not want to see. What a guy!! Any man that builds a house that looks down on the institution of learning that once rejected him from their ranks is top notch in my book. Him and I share the same passive-aggressive, grudge-holding personality trait.

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday last week, I thought I would turn one of the most Seuss-like members of my life (my crazy, stinky, large, and constantly shedding black lab, Boomer) into a homage of sorts. I am sure that Dr. Suess would object, but he's dead...so here goes.



My Stinky Friend
By Weasel

Florida is humid.
Florida is hot.
Florida, a place for a dog,
I think not.

I sit here with Boomer.
We sit here we two.
And I lean over and smell
something terrible. Whew!

I think it smells rotten
like moss on a log.
But, alas the smell is
my itchy black dog.

I say, "Here! Here!
Please come near!
There is something all gross
inside of your ear."

And, yes!
There it is, inside of his ear.
Something black, something growing
something dark that I fear.

I try to go at it.
To clean it all out.
But the grossness just grows,
and I shout and I pout.

I take Boomer in to the doc for a peek.
She tells me it should clear up in a week.
But it grows even bigger and even more runny,
so I take him in for a little more money.

The doc says,
"This is well out of my league.
You must call dog dermatology!"

"What!" I say, "What!"
I have never seen such a thing.
She says, "Why it's simple.
Just give them a ring."

So, I gave them a ring.
A ring and a prayer
for a doctor that
may charge something fair.

Well.....

The specialist fixed it!
He banished the smell!
How much did it cost me?
I never will tell.


Postscript: I can't wait to take the goons to see the movie "Horton Hears a Who."