Posted on 12/16/2004 9:28:26 PM PST by Former Military Chick
BEVERLY HILLS -- Today, I will let other people talk about politics and economics. I am going to talk about something more important: peace.
By total coincidence, my 60th birthday recently fell on Thanksgiving. It is perfectly apt though, because my whole life is about giving thanks, especially for still being alive and hearty at 60, and full of fight. But as I was asked over and over again what really makes me happy in my life now that I am no longer a young hippie, I only had to think for about two seconds.
Yes, of course, I am primarily grateful that I am in America, shining city on a hill, that I have a great wife and son, that I get to live in peace and prosperity. I would have to be insane not to be on my knees with gratitude to the men and women who fight for us, and I am stupendously grateful to them.
But there is someone very close to my heart who brings me the best moments of peace I ever have, and peace is truly God's greatest gift: Brigid, my gorgeous German short-haired pointer.
A word about Brigid. She was an abandoned dog. I got her at the Huntington Beach animal shelter.
She is my latest German short-haired pointer, the fifth one I have had, after owning two Weimaraners. Every one of these dogs is a heavenly gift. To lie next to Brigid for an hour in the afternoon, to have her next to me all night, to wake up to her soulful eyes and incredible joy, that is bliss.
I have worked for two Presidents in the White House, been in dozens of movies, played in one of the best sitcoms of all time, The Wonder Years, won Emmies for my quiz show. I have been married to a glorious wife for almost 40 years and we have a handsome, rugged son. This is all good stuff, even great stuff....But....
None of this gives me the serenity that being next to a sweet, loving big furry dog gives. There is a magical connection between dog and human that offers a glimpse of heaven.
It's Christmas. Time for gifts. You can get the best gift there is -- the gift of peace -- for free at your local animal shelter or pound and at many rescue societies. You have not fully taken advantage of God's gifts if you don't do it. Diamonds are nice and so are clothes and cars. But a loving, sweet dog of your very own, or for your spouse or for your child or parent, that's the best gift there is. That is the gift of love -- warm, unconditional, devoted, peaceful love. There is nothing better.
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer in Beverly Hills and Malibu.
This is a beautiful story, however, it seems the wife is taking second place to a dog. Oh well, thats just my take.
bump for later read...
Ben Stein **ping**
BTW, it is MUST read not MOST read as I quickly typed last night!
Yep--she sure is! Also much bigger than we thought she would be. We were told "boxer mix"...more like "dane mix".
Link to new hosted pic:
http://home.ripway.com/2004-12/220988/puppy.jpg
We have a rescue dog...Emma...a gem. White Westie terrior mix. I understand completely what Ben Stein is saying.
I love her and I don't even know her. What is the life expectancy of a stuffed animal?
Aw, give her a break. She's a big fan. He sends her flowers on her birthday.
Unconditional positive regard is a precious, wonderful thing. It's a natural part of most dog's package.
About 10 minutes..she goes thru quite a few of them!
LOL. My Lab mix played with stuffed toys until she got up to about 4 months.
I was going to ask you about your secret but you don't have one either.
I am stuck with solid rubber balls and the massive chewer kongs.
That was touching.
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead Of his tongue.- Anonymous
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where They went.- Will Rogers
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. - Ben Williams
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he Loves himself. - Josh Billings
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. - Andy Rooney
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has Ever made. - M. Acklam
Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, Who are incapable of pure love and always, have to mix love and Hate - Sigmund Freud
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. - Franklin P. Jones
If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I Have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.- James Thurber
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.- Unknown
Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come Back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half A cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!- Anne Tyler
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not Bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.- Mark Twain
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a Look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!- Dave Barry
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.- Roger Caras
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in Your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.- Phil Pastoret
My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.- Bubba
You might like this one.
Oh how cute. We had to put our Cairn Terrier to sleep last year after she got a skin disease they could not fix. She was really special. While she doesn't have a soul, I hope God will bring her back for heaven.
A brown beagle with ticking. I bet he's a great company.
I have a rescued rascal too, "Kirby". We found him running on our street early one morn causing a ruckus, apparently homeless and left to his own. We already had one dog and two cats, but we squeezed him in anyhow and saved him a visit to the pound. He is almost four now and still acts like a pup, raising some cain now and then but providing us unbounded joy and laughter. I too would encourage all who are able to make room for a dog in your life - whatever the effort, it pays back a hundredfold for the entire family.
She's great company, but is a hound mix.
She looks identical to the Walker line of the American Foxhound breed, but is about half the size. Maybe has some beagle mixed in, but we don't know for sure.
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