Boone, The Boss of Us

On a sunny Sunday morning in the Spring of 2021, Shane and I picked up five stinky, starving puppies off the road on our way to church. They were mutts, of course. Predictably, we fell in love. We nurtured them well and eventually found them all good homes. When the last, most special one was gone, I sat on the floor and cried. Oh, how I mourned that good boy. I really should have kept him.

Shane finally decided, “we’ve got to get you a puppy.” He suggested a beagle, since he had beagles growing up and loved the breed. I was blissfully ignorant. Alas, we got a bluetick beagle, the cutest thing you ever did see. I called him Boone, for he was nothing short of a tiny bespeckled hound dog.  

We quickly realized we’d brought, not a beagle, but a Tasmanian devil into our home. I gave him away – twice – and repossessed him both times. Oh, I loved him, but I couldn’t handle him. It was clear he intended to be the boss. Finally, Dr. Sullivan over in Winnsboro gave me some advice that changed my and Boone’s trajectory. He said, “You’ve got to think like a beagle.” So I did. Do. 

To be clear, Boone is still The Boss of Us.  He’s the only dog I’ve never been able to fully train. But he is a joy to watch, all nose and instinct and crooked tail. And, if he’s in the right mood, he’s a champion cuddler. He’s loyal. And smart. He has a doorbell he rings to get in and out; he’s trained us on it like Pavlov’s dogs. 

We called our business Boone & Co. because I guess we all know where we stand. I recently learned “Boone” is derivative of the French word “bon” which means “good.” And it is. It’s all good. 

So, for now, this is Boone & Co. signing off. It’s fine. I have the boss’s permission.