Molly, an upland, pointing bird dog, "pointing" a small flock of mallards working our decoys in Canada. 

Aaron and Molly, Just Chillin'. Christmas 2004. 

Recollection of a Bird Dog

Thirteen summers ago Patrick was 1 1/2 and Aaron was a wild child of 5. Over the course of the previous few years, I had gotten Aaron worked up about getting a puppy...I wanted a bird dog. Cathy conceded with the requirement that I follow our friend Tim Kritter's advice on type of dog (Engilsh Setter like his dog Finder) and from where to get this pet/hunting companion (from Breeder Wally Braun in Germantown). I agreed to do as she said and promptly went off on my own to locate a Brittney Spaniel in somewhere Minnesota.

Hearing of my decision to not take his advice, Tim called and layed out his thoughts. I understand better today how Tim is successful at persuasion...at least when it comes to me. Thirteen summers ago Tim spoke of how it just seemed right that we each would own English Setters. "We're going to be hunting together for a long time. Just think of us in the field with a couple of pheasants, sun going down, with our tired Setters... We're Setter guys, Tom." Tim implored me to think about the future before I decided. Kind of the same as my Dad used to say "Think ahead" but with with images.

As usual, I took Tim's advice and never regretted it. We located Wally Braun and found his breed line near Lake Geneva. We were in luck, Redford's Delight was the proud papa of a liter of English Setter pups born to EZD. We made the trip to pick out a puppy and I know Aaron was one eager little boy. The breeder put one puppy out at a time for us to hold and pet. It looked like we had one female that would be right for us, until he climbed into the pen and took out the second to smallest white and ORANGE, as I was corrected later, female. This little cutie went right for Aaron's shoe laces and untied them...they were rarely tied, and he usually had velcro bands, but this day he had shoe lace shoes and they were tied. Aaron and the puppy were pals from the start. The puppy picked us, and by the looks of her today, she's never regretted it.

When Aaron was growing up Molly, Aaron and I spent many happy hours hunting pheasants and ducks. Not many Setters take to water but Molly is an exception. Aaron and I would paddle the canoe out into a marsh or river, with Molly standing paws on the bow and tailing wagging in Aaron's face.

Aaron greatly missed Molly during his 13 month stay at Mount Bachelor. He feared she would forget him. It didn't take long for the two to reunite. Aaron and Molly shared a passion for sleeping anywhere. On the floor in the sun, the couch, Aaron's room, Patrick's room. The boys would have a virtual tug of war with her at night coaxing Molly to sack out with them. Aaron would tell Patrick that he had her all to himself for all those months and he deserved to have her. Patrick countered with the fact that he feeds her and took care of her for all those months so he earned her. Usually Aaron would win by being Aaron and Molly would start the night in his room...ending up where she pleased.

One of Aaron's persistent woes was "Mom, what will we do when Molly dies??" No dog could ever replace Molly for Aaron. Same for each of us. While discovering blogs, I found fascinating art on the site of David Macri, an artist in Canada. www.DavidMacri.BlogSpot.com. In the late winter/early spring, I struck up an email conversation with David about doing a painting of Molly and me for a "Father's Day Gift". I told the boys what I thought would be the perfect gift. I suggested this would be something I would love forever and they could fight over who gets to own the art work later.

Having the painting by Father's Day became of little consequence soon after when Aaron died. After a while, David and I began to exchange messages again and David renewed my interest. What I was thinking of and what David painted are not the same. That's part of the beauty. David did not know this fact: Aaron, Molly and I spent time together in a duck blind. Patrick, Molly and I spent time together in a duck blind. My dad and I, without a dog, spent time together in a duck blind. If you look at the lower left of the marsh scene, you will notice a dad and a boy...no dog.

While discussing hunting this spring, Aaron insisted to Patrick that the three of us would hunt ducks together. As a father of two boys, and a guy who grew up hunting with a dad, I thought we would spend lots of time hunting...the three of us. It's not going to happen, but that's not as important as the time we did spend together. God knows it is healthy to remember, not so to regret.

Molly and Tim's Finder were best of hunting buddies, as are Tim and I. After Finder died, Molly would still run to the back of Tim's SUV jumping up to see her pal, but her place was empty. With "Finder" Tim had a fabulous bird dog and a fitting name. Molly is the name selected by Aaron and Cathy...no input from Patrick as he spoke little until he turned 4.
I think Tim considered Molly a pedestrian name with no real imagination behind it (Actually Eazy Red Molly after Mom- EZD and Dad- Redford's Delight). Today Tim has a new dog he acquired last year...already named. You know the name that came with the pup: Molly! Poetic justice, my friend. Thank you for leading me to the right dog for the memories.

On David Macri, he must be more than an artist to capture, in Happy Hunting Grounds, Molly's personality and my memories.

I'm grateful for having virtually met David Macri. You can meet him at David_Macri@msn.com.

Happy Memories

Tom