CLUNY'S CORNER Cluny@ClarionIsh.Com

GIZMO'S BIG ADVENTURE

Gizmo is a mixed-breed doggie who lives in St. Marys, GA, the home of the Clarion Issue, everybody's favorite newspaper, thanks to my column. On the day after Thanksgiving he began a big adventure that would rival any major trip to the shopping mall or outlet center, so treasured by his human counterparts. This is his story.

Gizmo showed up at his neighbor's house in beautiful downtown St. Marys shortly before the big parade that kicks off the downtown shopping season to play with his good pal, Otis. Since Otis's masters were planning to see the parade and maybe hit a few stores after the big event, Otis was not allowed to play with Gizmo. Gizmo then spent time drinking out of Otis's water dish, eating a few leftover scraps from the food bowl, watering a few thirsty trees and shrubs, and gnawing on a pair of Otis's masters' socks that Otis had left outside. When Otis's masters left for the big parade, Gizmo decided 'people playmates were better than no playmates,' so he followed Otis's masters down Hall St. to Osborne St., the "main drag" in St. Marys.

Gizmo was not deterred by any of the attempts to get him to return home, but thought it was a great game of 'Dare and Double Dare.' When Gizmo got to the corner of Hall and Osborne, he was so excited to find all the people waiting to play with him that he just went bonkers. After several near misses by cars, he thought this was fun and decided that, 'If I stand in the traffic everybody cheers for me and soon somebody comes from the crowd to pick me up!' Gizmo finally got tired of that game and came back over to stand with Otis's masters. When they wouldn't play 'Dare and Double Dare' anymore, he decided to try to find someone else to play.

Gizmo began to follow people this way and that on the sidewalk, but always came back to the people he knew after about a half block or so. However, when Santa appeared, he headed north toward the mill and got lost in the crowd. Thinking he must be with the children following Santa, Otis's masters walked all the way to the waterfront and back, but they never caught another glimpse of Gizmo.

Gizmo had disappeared and was "lost" for several days. He really wasn't 'lost.' He knew where he was, and he was having a good time. Gizmo hung out around the waterfront, eating scraps thrown out by the patrons of the waterfront cafes, chasing the cats that hang out around the docks eating the fish and shrimp left by the fishermen, peeing on all the fire hydrants downtown, and of course, hiding from his master who was looking for him for the entire five days he was on his adventure.

However, after several e-mails, wanted posters, trips to the pound, and phone calls by his master and Otis's masters, they finally learned that Gizmo was hiding out at Red Wall Antiques on Osborne St. right near his home. Gizmo was safely returned back home much to the pleasure and relief of his master, Otis's masters, Otis himself, and all of us who were following his big adventure.
When asked what was the most fun he had while he was "on the lam" Gizmo replied, "Hiding from the dog catcher every day, and biting those bell ringing Santas on their cheap black boots." Gizmo made it home in time to watch all the bowl games and the 24-hour Christmas Story marathon, starring Ralphie, a Red Rider BB-Gun, and the Bumpus' doggies, on TV. What an adventure! What a dog!

Write me, Cluny@ClarionIsh.com .