The other morning, Henry and I were walking on a tree lined street that borders 
a golf course. An older woman, a little ways ahead of us, suddenly stopped and glanced back. A moment later, she picked up what I assumed was a rock and crossed the street with it in her hand. I thought what a negative reaction.
ELBEE That’s not all she thought.
It turns out that what she had picked up was a golf ball. She took it over to a man sitting on a low wall on the other side of the street. He’s kind of a neighborhood fixture who makes a little extra money by selling the balls to players who ride by on their carts. I’ve seen him in the same spot on countless weekends. Although I’ve said an occasional hello, I have never thought to pick up a golf ball for him.
After doing her good deed, the woman came back over to say hello. When I introduced her to Henry she smiled and began petting him. As we chatted, of course I shared about Gus and Stanley and the work they do.
ELBEE Is anyone surprised?
It turns out that she had volunteered at the Jewish Home for the Aged and had seen therapy dogs at work. She totally believed in their power to comfort and heal. I had been so wrong about her.
ELBEE You think?
On another day I was walking with Gus and Stanley in a different neighborhood. I get bored with the same routine so I like to explore. It started to get warm so I headed down a side street that had a lot more shade.
Suddenly, a small house stopped me in my tracks. It had way too much going on. There were sculptures, plants hanging from trees, wind chimes, pinwheels, dreamcatchers, symbols for every religion. There didn’t seem to be an empty spot. In other words it was ungapatchka
ELBEE For those of you who aren’t familiar with the word, it’s a Yiddish expression for ridiculously over-decorated.
As I was standing there judging, the nicest man came over to say hello. The yard was his pride and joy. He told me that he’d been working on it for twenty years. It was his gift to children and pets.
An animal lover, he was completely taken with Gus and Stanley. He even suggested a photo with them. He was so kind and jovial, I felt as if I’d been passing judgement on Santa Claus and his place in the North Pole.
