Hi All Y’All,
I hope this missive of mine finds you well. 🙂 I’ve been keepin’ up with my reading and writing, and I’ve also completed my reading of my canine predecessor’s, Winston’s, work – or, as I like to call it, oeuvre.
(ed: Ooooo – listen to you!)
Yes, Fr. Dad, I am expanding my words so I can use them in … er … multifarious ways.
(ed: Hold on a moment … let me just look that one up … ‘multifarious’ … ‘many and various types’ Oooooo2!)
I’m also learning another language, too!
(ed: Oh, really? What is it?)
Lets see if you can get it … Ah hum: ‘Mea sofa, mea sofa, mea maxima sofa.’
(ed: I guess you are learning some kind of Latin, yes?)
That’s right! Uncle Lewis is teaching me.
(ed: Do you know what it means?)
Well … ‘mea’ means ‘my’, and ‘maxima’ means ‘greatest’.
(ed: And ‘sofa’ means?)
I’m not so sure about that one – I tried researching it but couldn’t find anything.
(ed: It seems to me that Uncle Lewis has played a trick on you.)
What? No. Never – Uncle Lewis is too kind for that. I just have to learn more.
(ed: Well, that’s true – we all have to continue learning – but in this case, we have to accept that the word ‘sofa’ is an English word. And that being the case …?)
Oh. I see.
(ed: exhibit A – the photo in which you look happy – too happy – about the ‘work’ you’ve done.)
You’re talking about THE … sofa aren’t you?
(ed: Yes. ‘my sofa, my sofa, my greatest sofa’)
Oh.
(ed: ‘Oh’ indeed! Uncle Lewis was playing with words – as well as playing with you. He modified the phrase ‘mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa’ – which translates as ‘my fault, my fault, my grievous fault’. It is an expression used as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.)
Oh.
(ed: So what have you learned?)
That Uncle Lewis is sneaky?
(ed: Well, apart from that.)
Well, you didn’t leave me a proper treat when you left for the church. You just gave me a late breakfast an went. So I got all upset, an the sofa was there, an I chewed on it. A little bit. Just a little.
(ed: So why do you look happy in the photo?)
Well, I wanted to look my best in your photo – you keep telling me I’m hansome, so I want to be hansome.
(ed: Handsome and happy, surrounded by the debris of your vandalism. You attacked a harmless sofa.)
Don’t you mean ‘armless’ – at least it is now! HAHAHA!
(ed: Grrrrr!)
I’m sorry, dad.
(ed: I know you are. And I’m sorry, too.)
What are you sorry about?
(ed: Well, I rushed out, not giving you a proper treat that would distract you from me leaving. I know you get anxious; I should have done better for you.)
I don like it when you leave. I feel all alone. Ive felt like that two much before.
(ed: You should always know I’m going to return – as will Vern. We will never leave you.)
I kinda know that, but the howlings get the better of me, and I kinda panic.
(ed: Well, you won’t have to worry, because we will all be together for Independence Day! Do you know what that day celebrates, Humphrey?)
I believe I do, dad! It is the day the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Second Continental Congress (you gotta love Woofipedia!)
(ed: From whom did the US become independent?)
I guess, your lot.
(ed: ‘Your lot’? what does THAT mean?)
The Brits. Winston mentioned he knew a crazy Bulldog. That just about sums y’all up! Also, from his description, he also knew a crazy you!
(ed: I thank you for the high esteem in which you hold the British … and me.)
Your welcome. Anyhoo, we need to celebrate – `cos that’s what July the 4th is for. It’s all about food n having a good time n doin stuff n food. Ive seen it on TV so it must be true.
(ed: I admire your enthusiasm, H, what else do you know?)
Well, I know that freedom doesn’t come cheep – it is something we all need to take care of or itll go away. The US owes so much to soo many people over the years, and the work continues. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”.
(ed: Who said that?)
Probably a dog – its what we do.
(ed: I think something like that was said by an Irishman. Juss sayin’)
Irish Wolfhound – now there’s a dog for you.
(ed: Focus, Humphrey.)
Well, whoever said it, the thing is that freedom isn’t free, liberty isn’t liberation – it is only the ‘becoming’ of liberty – and justice isn’t just if it doesn’t apply to all.
(ed: Whoa – that’s heavy stuff, H!)
Of course it is. You’ve unleashed a Doberman, dad, an I can see imma going to enjoy my learning, and putting it to use. You’ve given me my own Independence Day.
(ed: You’re welcome)
Later, people – enjoy the Forth!
H.
