Almost sixteen years ago, when I had just gotten serious with my girlfriend-now-wife, I was introduced to a little bundle of barky fluff... I named her Huang Doudou (Yellow Tofu bean)...

My girlfriend had just returned from visiting her aunt and told me she had special surprise for me... My toxic masculinity immediately jumped to lingerie and sandwiches (not necessarily in that order).. But instead I was handed a tiny puppy...

She demonstrated her love by immediately attempting to rip through my thumb... And I was hooked... Carried her around in a pocket until she was big enough to keep up... And endured some rather interesting fights with my paramour until it was properly established that dogs can sleep on beds

She was one if my rocks during the early days when I was struggling with language, culture shock, and alcoholism.... The number of great memories a dog can impart is quite beyond count....

My favorite is when I would lay on the floor and blow at her... She would jump on me and try to smother me... My wife remembers the time she chased a German Shepherd around the park after it scared her (my wife, not the dog)...

She's a Japanese Chin (although the species originates in China....Quite an interesting story there) and their lifespans are usually around 12 years.... Back when we finally decided to have a child one of our greatest regrets was the thought that our daughter might not get to meet her.... At 12 years old she was already experiencing health issues...

Luckily she overcame then and came to spend three wonderful years with my daughter... Indeed, my daughter refers to her as her older sister... And often insists that they eat together

This past week the weather turned... During the warm summer months she was able to enjoy long naps and relative good health... Although the arthritis had limited her mobility and she was going blind.... Suddenly she was unable to stand and in almost constant pain...

Yesterday my daughter started preschool... And it was joyful to hear her tell her sister about the teachers and students...

This morning she stroked her head and told her she loved her... Then we took her to school... Afterwards my friend (a vet) came by.... I held her in my arms... And cried as the life left her.... It was gentle... And I'm glad she spent her last moments at home...

Her ashes are in my study now.... And my daughter has had her first real experience with loss...And my wife has cried a few dozens times....And I'm on my third beer...

As much as it hurts, I can't imagine how the last 15 years would have been without her in my life... Sometimes the greatest blessings can rip a person apart... And pain can be so bitter sweet...

(The pictures are from an album I had made when she was just three years old)

Have you ever wondered what the XXX rating system meant when talking about Stetson Hats? Well, if you are a Texan, and I suppose most of the western states, a hat is important, and it also tells strangers a lot about you, your economic status, and character. You didn’t know that? Well, hang on partner, you are in for an important education.

If you’ve read my posts from the beginning, you will know that my first head covering was a leather aviator’s cap with goggles. Later, going to school I wore a wool pull over, or what some called a “Sheboygan” or watch cap. It was just what kids wore in those days. But by the time I was in high school I wore one of my father’s old Stetson hats.

Now, ever since the first Stetson’s were marketed there was an X rating on them. I never paid any attention, because I never bought one myself, they were just handed down to me. Even after purchasing one, the “Open Road style” or alternatively called the “Lyndon Johnson” I only paid attention to what they cost. I never paid any attention at all to the X rating.

However, I finally have come to the age when I do ask why and look under the hood so to speak and recommend that you begin to do the same. So here we go. The X’s refer to the quality, or the level of beaver’s belly fur that has gone into the hat. One X is 10%, and so forth, up until there is 10 X’s or 100% premium beaver belly fur in the Stetson hat. I checked and 50 years ago, a 3X Stetson Beaver hat would cost $30.00, and so on. Now, a 3X would be at least $300.00.

Now I have only seen one person in my peer group wearing what I believe was a 10X Stetson Beaver hat, which presumably would have cost at least $1,000. I was amazed, transfixed, and speechless at the sight. Well, it was amazing. I never said a word, I was speechless.

Now a few words about western hat etiquette. You never touch, pickup, or handle another man’s hat without asking permission first. Handle it with respect if granted permission, but do not put it on your head, just look at it and return it just as you received it.

Finally, a few points of personal preference. Do not ever buy, gift, or wear a black western hat! Black is solely the domain of Holmberg’s, and other eastern dudes’ dress code, leave them alone. In the south, southwest, and such, black hats are for truck-stop trash, they are cheap and are not an indication of any acceptable quality in a man. Further, they were the uniform hat for Union cavalry officers, horse thieves, scalawags, and carpet baggers of the old South. If you are willing to fall into this category, it is your choice. There are millions of other colors to chose from, so be aware of avoiding black. Just Sayin…RJS

I went to Germany once and the sauerkraut over there was much better than what we have over here. It was a light brownish color and had small black berries in it. They said they were "krautberren" or something like that. They served it at food vending trailers called an "imbus". Served it with various sausages and "grilled hockse", a grilled ham hock. Also served with "Eisbein". Do you know what the small berries were? They were a bit smaller than a peppercorn.