Fancy Meeting You Here

He’s learning to be a “yes” man to his wife and daughter, and he’s said “yes” repeatedly to his alma mater, College of the Ozarks. During his 22 years on the Board of Trustees, he has served in many leadership roles, including chairman. The college is well known for its Christian values, promotion of patriotism, and dedication to hard work. Students at CofO are provided campus employment, enabling them to attend and graduate “tuition free.”

Nowadays, he is open to taking on projects assigned to him by his wife and daughter, but not always in that order.

Barney and his wife never thought themselves to be “cat people,” but their horizons have broadened to appreciate felines.

“We have no grandchildren, but we enjoy four ‘grandcats’,” he mentioned recently, calling out one, Pippin, as the family favorite. Even as a kitten, Pippin enjoyed being outdoors, where he tolerates walking on a leash, and formerly sneaked out when doors were left ajar.

Barney’s daughter loves Pippin, too, and figured that if the pet had a “catio” (rhymes with “patio”), he could safely spend more time outdoors. Dear ole’ dad hopped right on the project, and the “catio” now provides a bit of heaven on earth for Pippin, as well as the three other cats. The “catio” — more like the Waldorf Astoria Hotel than a Motel 6 — spans 70 square feet of partially-roofed, screened-in porch, equipped with benches, climbing poles, cat walks, lounging shelves and more. The cats are perfectly content; Pippin pays no mind now to finding doors left ajar; the “catio” exceeds standards of the most discriminating felines.

A man with many interests, Barney and his back-packing buddies paid close attention to suggestions for trekking in the Bob Marshall National Wilderness near Glacier National Park. Warned that they’d be hiking through many miles inhabited by grizzly bears, the group wore “bear bells.” It was theorized that upon hearing the jingling, bears might “vamoose” to avoid the hikers.

They encountered no bears, and ended their adventure on rented bikes in the park. Learning that bears abided there, too, they transferred their bells from their backpacks to bicycles.

Later, they joked that the bells jingling may or may not have “repelled bears, they had no clue about the next and best benefit. It was at ride’s end at one of the park’s most scenic views.

So many people stop there, it has a tunnel for pedestrians to cross safely under the road. As the bikers crossed through the tunnel, no one could miss hearing the bells’ loud and constant jingling. Many stopped instead of exiting.

As they biked slowly, a gaggle of young children came running back through the tunnel, closely followed by parents, who likewise were mystified by the “jingling.” Soon, the confusion cleared. Upon hearing the bells, the children thought it might be reindeer pulling Santa through the tunnel.

Barney isn’t sure if the bells repelled the bears, but will always fondly remember how they attracted a bunch of youngsters.

Speaking of surprises, our daughters, Jana Penney and Jeanie McDaniel were on separate hotel floors with their husbands at a recent Howard Payne University reception in Brownwood. (Their children — cousins Kedren Penney and Addison McDaniel — are HPU freshmen.) Jana and Jeanie both rose early, opting to take the stairs to the coffee bar.

They made the coffee decision a few minutes apart. When one was on the stairs downward, the other was returning from the lobby headed upward. Each heard the other’s footsteps, and each tightened grips on mace spray, just in case.

Their paths crossed on the second floor landing. They laughed heartily without spilling their coffee, and no, it wasn’t the recently renamed “Maxwell Apartment” blend.

Dr. Newbury, a speaker in the Metroplex, may be reached at 817-447-3872; email: newbury@speakerdoc.com. Column audio version at www.speakerdoc.com.