Hi-Ball i e My Garbage Disposal

summary:
Hi-Ball, our family coon dog, is much more than a garbage disposal!

Hi-Ball i. e. My Garbage Disposal
By
Anne McKee




I was in dire need of a garbage disposal. You see we had just completed construction of our dream house and well…..funds were low in the “ole construction building account” at the bank. Unfortunately the garbage disposal was an item that we lacked.
For many months I complained loudly, “I so need a garbage disposal!” But alas, no garbage disposal appeared – that is until Hi-Ball came into our lives.
I shall never forget the excitement of the day that my husband entered the back door with the shout of, “Come and see what I have for you!” My answer was, “Well..what is it?” I shouted this over the clamor of the noise of the dishwasher and microwave oven. Again my husband repeated, this time even louder, “Come and see. It’s something that you have been wanting!”
My curiosity got the best of me as I edged toward the back door to take a look at this “thing that I had been wanting”. There sat the most bony, gosh-awful specimen of a dog that I had ever seen! In my “little cute doggie” mind’s eye, I thought he almost looked embarrassed to be seen in decent company. These thoughts ripped through my mind as I
tiptoed around this ugly but seemingly kind-hearted beast with the slightly wagging bony tail. His huge brown eyes followed my every move as he sized me up and down. I admit that, I too, was sizing him up and down and just trying to figure out what illusion I was under when I asked for one of these…whatever it was! My husband stood back with a grin from ear to ear positively glowing with this newly acquired “thing”.



My first instinct was to get my broom and sweep this bag of bones right off of the deck, but then a second look at my husband and I could plainly see he was giddy with excitement over this…this…Coon Dog! I’ll say it again – COON DOG!
I had heard of Coon Dogs. I knew that our neighbor had a pen full of them sort of as a strange hobby, I thought. Boy! Did I have a lot of good stuff to learn and Hi-Ball aimed to teach me, as he and I became the best of friends. But this was my very first up close and personal look and I was not impressed – not at that point in time.
After I had recovered my breath enough to yell, as I pointed a shaky finger at my husband, to loudly inquire, “What makes you think that I want this..this..dog?” As my husband looked at me I could see his excitement actually begin to deflate as he stammered, “Don’t you need a garbage disposal?” “Yes, but, but”….my mind tried to catch up with the calculation of ugly dog equals garbage disposal.. It just was not clicking.
Practically in one breath my husband exclaimed, “Hi-Ball’s Momma was the Treeing Walker Double Night Champion and his sire was the Field and Bench Champion!”
“OK”, I said hesitantly. Seeing that I was in a blank stare my husband continued with, “and ole Hi-Ball here will be the best garbage disposal ever!”
I thought my ears were surely playing tricks on me but I was wrong – way wrong! Hi-Ball moved into our lives that very afternoon and lived as a member of our family for fifteen years and a mighty fine garbage disposal he COULD have been, for sure! But after (mainly myself) and the entire family relied on Hi-Ball for so many, many happy times in our lives then a “garbage disposal” – oh no! Only the very best was good enough for Hi-Ball. If we had steak then Hi-Ball had steak – not that he was a demanding puppy because he wasn’t but just because he was so loving and dedicated to our family.
Now I never did think that he had anything to brag about in the “looks” department but Hi-Ball worked off of inner-beauty and we all know that is the only true beauty. He actually adored our two young sons and grew up with them as a buddy and play partner.
And…no, I never did have a “bought” garbage disposal. After Hi-Ball moved into our lives it just didn’t seem important anymore. I spent many, many happy hours watching the boys play (all four of them including my husband and Hi-Ball) and I would remember the day that my husband eased this dog into my life, our lives, knowing that at first I would resist but also knowing that my heart could NOT resist this warm-hearted, loveable companion. Our family’s version of man’s best friend and indeed he was!
Our Hi-Ball, more than a garbage disposal – a part of our hearts that we will never forget.