Christmas Stockings
There was a feel-good story in today’s Washington Post about a local mail carrier that delivers Christmas stockings to more than 100 dogs on his mail route. Scott Arnold is a 27 year veteran of the US Postal Service and he has been doing this on his route in McLean Virginia for 17 years. According to the article, Arnold packs the stockings with
…rawhide candy canes, dog cookies and rock-hard biscuits, along with an ornament, different each year, that features a photo of the dog taken with Arnold’s 35mm film camera.
Also included in the stocking is a “Santa Paws” newsletter that welcomes new dogs to the neighborhood, acknowledges those dogs that have moved away, and remembers those that have passed on to the “North Pole Kennel”. As might be expected, Arnold has seen many dogs come and go along his mail route. In the cases when the dog dies during the year, Arnold writes a letter to the owner, in the “voice” of the departed companion. Scott Arnold is awarded the Thought Docket Seal of Approval for his kindness.
Scott Arnold
Coincidentally, last night, on Christmas Eve, I finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein. This book is narrated by a dog named Enzo. Enzo has many human qualities, and is able to relate lessons learned by race car drivers to everyday life.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The book is highly recommended for “dog people” and those with an interest in high-performance driving.
And, speaking of dogs
I am thankful that I have had Tammy, Vicky, Trixie, Alice, Norton, and Ben in my life.