I shall never forget the excitement the day my husband entered the back door with the shout of, “Come and see what I have gotten for you!” My answer was, “Well, what is it?” I shouted this above the clamor of the noise of the dishwasher and microwave oven. Again my husband repeated, this time even louder, “Come and see. It’s something you have been wanting!”

My curiosity got the best of me as I edged toward the back door to take a look at this “thing I had been wanting.” There sat the most bony, gosh-awful specimen of a dog I had ever seen!

In my “little cute doggie” mind’s eye, I thought he looked almost embarrassed to be seen in decent company. These thoughts ripped through my mind as I tiptoed around this ugly, but seemingly kind-hearted beast with a slightly wagging bony tail. His huge brown eyes followed my every move as he sized me up and down. I admit that I, too, was sizing him up and down, just trying to figure out what illusion I was under when I asked for one of these . . . these . . . whatever it was! My husband stood back with a grin from ear to ear, positively glowing with this newly acquired “thing!”

My first instinct was to get a broom and sweep this bag of bones right off my deck, but then I took a second look at my husband and could plainly see he was giddy with excitement over this . . . this . . . Coon dog! I’ll say it again: COON DOG!

I had heard of Coon Dogs. I knew our neighbor had a pen full of them sort of as a strange hobby, I thought. Boy! Did I have a lot of good stuff to learn and Hi- Ball aimed to teach me, as he and I became the best of friends. But this was my very first up-close-and-personal-look, and I was not impressed – not at that point in time.

After I finally recovered my breath enough to yell, I pointed a shaky finger at my husband and loudly inquired, “What makes you think that I want this . . . this . . . dog?”

As my husband looked at me his excitement actually began to deflate as he stammered, “Don’t you need a garbage disposal?”

”Yes, but, but –“

My mind tried to catch up with the calculation of dog-equals-garbage-disposal. It just was not clicking.

Practically in one breath, my husband exclaimed, “Hi-Ball’s momma was the Treeing Walker Double Night Champion and his sire the Field and Bench Champion!”

”Okay,” I said hesitantly. Seeing that I was in a blank stare my husband continued with, “And ole Hi-Ball here will be the best garbage disposal ever!”

I thought my ears were surely playing tricks on me, but I was wrong, way wrong! Hi-Ball moved into our lives that very afternoon and lived as a member of our family for fifteen years, and a mighty fine garbage disposal he COULD have been, for sure!

But after our entire family relied on Hi-Ball for so many, many happy times in our lives, then a “garbage disposal?” Oh no! Only the very best was good enough for our Hi-Ball. If we had steak, Hi-Ball had steak – not that he was a demanding puppy, because he wasn’t, but just because he was so loving and dedicated to our family.

Now, I never did think he had anything to brag about in the “looks” department, but Hi-Ball worked off of inner-beauty, and we all know this is the only true beauty. He actually adored our two young sons and grew up with them as a buddy and play partner.

And, no. I never did have a “bought” garbage disposal. After Hi-Ball moved into our lives, it just didn’t seem important. I spent many happy hours watching the boys play (all four of them – including my two sons, my husband and Hi-Ball) and I would remember the day that my husband eased this dog into my life, our lives, knowing that at first I would resist, but also knowing that my heart could NOT resist this warm-hearted, loveable companion.