My Buddy, My Pal
The first and last time I saw Buddy was on November 19, 1999, as he played with his yellow tennis ball in his back yard--the Rose Garden at the White House. Bill and Hillary weren't around so Buddy and I enjoyed a game of catch. Buddy's keeper was the chief engineer who kept him in his office area just off the doors exiting out onto the North Portico of the White House lawn. As I would toss the ball he would run to catch it as his sleek, arched, chocolate brown, body leaped through the air like dolphins playing in the bay. What a magnificent animal! How did I manage to be on a first name basis with the then number one First Dog in the country? It was through a mutual White House friend of Morris and Shirley Rowe's who invited us to spend the day at the White House. "Take all the photos you want," we were told as we were given
the freedom of a personal tour of this magnificent
house and
grounds. And take pictures we did. But, Jon Rowe and I wanted to meet
Buddy. He was on the top of our agenda of things to see and do, along
with First Cat Socks, who also managed to entertain and pose for us. |