By Colbert King of the Washington Post: (excerpts)
Within his first 100 days in the White House, President Obama has made several critical decisions that will live with him for some time to come.
But none of his decisions comes closer to being a life-changing experience than the choice that he and his wife, Michelle, made to bring a dog into the White House.
A Portuguese water dog. The pedigree doesn’t matter. Even the mini-fuss over whether their choice is a “rescue dog” is less important.
Getting a dog was the critical step. The delight on the faces of their daughters tells the story.
What is important, to the Obama family and to anyone else out there thinking of getting a dog, is to just do it. But please don’t think of your acquisition as a pet. You’re getting a companion.
The Obamas have brought something dear into their lives. Unlike the Washington supplicants kissing up to the first family, Bo will love them not because of his master’s title or where the Obamas live or the clothes in their wardrobe. He’ll be there for them because of who they are.
In good or bad times, their dog’s love will shine through. If the Obamas haven’t learned it yet, they soon will find out that friendship in this oh-so-political town tends to rise and fall with the polls. Bo, on the other hand, will remain by their side simply because there is nowhere else he would rather be.
He’s not going to tell the president when he screws up. Or remind the first family of their mistakes. He won’t care whether Barack Obama’s presidency is successful or a flop. The time may even come when the Obamas mean little to the country. But they will remain all the world to Bo.
If you leave the house to take out a bag of trash and return within two minutes, who else will greet you at the door as if you have been gone for a week? Don’t expect that from the two-legged folks in your home.
Commander in chief, world leader, master of all you survey — that you may be. But when Bo needs a trip to the South Lawn, put world peace on hold, sir, and take that dog for a walk.
You can be sure he’ll be there walking by your side when, as Walter Winchell once said, “the rest of the world walks out.”
Read the entire article HERE
