The old man I am referring to is my boy Rowdy but it also applies to me. A number of years ago, we had the good fortune to meet Dr. Jane Leon, a veterinarian who had a TV show on the American Health Network. As we got to know each other, she and her family met our family of dogs and Rowdy fell in love with Jane's daughter, Melanie who was 8 years old at the time.

Over the course of the next few years, Jane, Rowdy and I would go to various schools around the greater Orlando area conducting a basic "Doggie Education" class with 4th, 5th and 6th graders to teach them how to approach large, potentially dangerous dogs and what to do if they were attacked. In 2003, Melanie asked if she could "borrow" Rowdy to try out for a talent show at her school. Melanie was 11 at the time and her talent was as a lion tamer and Rowdy was to be "The Dandy Lion". Here's a photo of the act from 2003.



Last Friday, Melanie called to ask if I would take a few photos for her yearbook. She's now a senior. Because of her love of animals, she asked if she could have a few shots with her best boyfriend, Rowdy. This shot shows how happy she made my "old man".



Of course, we had to do some more serious poses as well. Rowdy was still a pretty happy fella.



And one final shot with Rowdy, Melanie and her puppy, Jasper (20 months old) who is a Rowdy grandson.



Rowdy was so energized by Melanie's visit that we've decided he'll come with us to the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio next week along with another grandson, our Sundance. There he'll get to see is other favorite girlfriend, Michelle McDowell (age 15), ride. I suspect we may get a few pictures of the two of them as well. That'll make two old men very happy.

Jim