Walking Moritz 7:30 AM Saturday to fetch some bread from
my favourite bakery... after crossing a busy street, a
woman stops us and exclaims, "I can't believe it... can
I take a picture of your dog...ahh, you and your dog...ahhh,
really could you take the picture of the dog and me?"
"Sure" I reply. "How come you're so excited?"
"Yesterday my husband and I saw your dog, for just a
moment, before you went behind a bus. Last evening we
were reflecting about our three favourite images of
Amsterdam. Your dog was one of them." She began the
usual questions: his name, his breed, how old, and then
proceeded to ask 20 more questions about Moritz and me.
I halted the interrogation and asked, "What do you do?"
I am sports reporter, name Lesley Visser, my husband is
Dick Stockton." I recognize Dick's name, as I am a
sports fan.
"Tell Dick I enjoy his broadcast of the National
Basketball Association games. He has a fan club of 1 in
Montana.
Lesley nods in agreement.
She is not fully listening as she obsessed with her
camera. It does not work. Totally frustrated she asks if
we will come over to the Amstel Hotel. She will get
Dick. Excitedly, she bubbles, "He won't believe it."
She is so enthusiastic as well as charming that it is
hard to say no. Before I know it we are talking about my
childhood and the sport scene in St. Louis where I grew
up.
The Amstel Hotel doesn't allow dogs inside. So we sit on
the red-carpeted stairs. A busboy looks at us, "Good
looking dog."
Instantly Lesley bemoans her camera is broken. The
busboy assures her he can have a new one momentarily and
returns with a film camera ready to shoot.
Lesley snaps pictures and goes inside to call Dick and
to tell him to come down immediately.
Moritz, looking regal, lies on the red carpet greeting
the cars that pull up to the hotel. Lesley returns and
reports, "Dick is coming." She didn't tell him why to
rush down to the front of the hotel; she enjoys
surprising him. Dick appears at the top of the stairs,
looks at me, probably wondering what's the big deal. He
spots Moritz and exclaims, "Wow!"
He hustles down the stairs to get on the carpet with
Moritz. As he pets him, he begins asking twenty
questions (must be a professional habit) after five or
six, I inform him that Lesley has already finished the
interview and she will fill him in.
He is now on his knees playing with Moritz and talking
about the Polo grounds in New York and the '48 starting
line-up of the St. Louis Cardinals. He is content
talking about his passion and playing with Moritz.
"Dick, I have a question for you. What is it about this
dog that has you so enthralled?"
He stops. Probably, it is unusual for him to answer
rather than ask questions. The question surprises
him...there is silence. He appears thoughtful yet
puzzled.
He steps back and looks at Moritz. Moritz is lying
relaxed on the carpet looking at Dick and Lesley.
In a quiet manner Dick answers, "I want to be like he
is."
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