When I flew to Louisville, Kentucky to pick up my second Ocherese puppy, I had a layover in the airport for four hours.

I must start this story out saying that I had purchased the cutest “JUICY” dog carrier for my new puppy. (nothing but the best for my new puppy)

As the breeders walked in the airport with her, I was amazed as to how much hair this puppy had; well, she looked like a small panda bear cub with a full winter coat. First thought, how is she going to fit into this designer carrier to go home on the plane! Next thought, who cares, I just want to hold her and get to know her. We met, it was love at first sight for both of us. The carrier? Well not a problem, she was just a lot of hair, but only weighed 4lbs. She fit just fine when the time came to put her in, last minute of course.

While waiting for my flight I started talking with a young man about 19yrs. old and he loved my puppy too.  He asked me “what her name was” and I had to tell him that “I wasn’t sure yet”. After talking awhile, he stated that” Dan Rather, the t.v. anchor man, was just behind us”. I thought I would love to meet him since I practically know him, after all he was in our living room every night for alot of years when growing up and even after I got married we watched him.  I told the young man that “I was going to go talk to Dan”, and he quickly asked “if I knew him?” I said, “I feel like I do, but no, I hadn’t met him”. He said,” he couldn’t believe I would just go up to a celebrity and introduce myself”. I said “well, I am talking to you and I didn’t know you before, and hey, I have a puppy, everyone loves a cute puppy”.  He then nodded his head and saw the light – I think. I got up and boldly walked over to Mr. Dan Rather.

I have to add this important part of the story, I had an extreme allergic reaction to the airport air and had been sneezing basically the whole time there. (no it wasn’t the new puppy, she’s a non-allergenic dog, it was mold spores in the air). Needless to say my blue eyes weren’t very blue after all that sneezing and watery eye thing.

O.k., so I walked up to Dan Rather anyway and he immediately stood up in his tailored trench coat and with great stature. He held himself up tall and with a gentle look on his face.  I immediately stated that” he didn’t have to stand up” and as soon as the words came out of my mouth, he retorted, “I always stand for a lady”. WOW!  That was so kind of him and the friendly grin on his face was so warm and kind that I knew I could have a conversation with this nice man.  He asked me my name and we chatted a bit, I thanked him  for all his years of  great journalism and the contribution he had made to the American news broadcasting system. He most graciously thanked me for the compliment. He then noticed that I was holding a cute fluffy black & white puppy, and inquired about her. Well, I explained that” I had just picked her up from the breeders, here at the airport and was heading to Arizona with her”. He gently reached out his hand and petted her on the head, she in turn licked him as to say thank you.

Mr. Dan Rather asked “what her name was” and I said “I wasn’t  sure yet”. Without hesitation, I followed it up by asking him if “he could help me name her; being a man that had traveled the world and seen so many things and met so many people, I knew he could help  me out with this”. He said “well, a name is a really important thing, it lasts their whole life, I don’t know about that”. I told him “I was very aware of that and would take the risk.”  I tell ya the truth, he stood there for about 3 minutes pondering this little puppy, asking if it was a girl or boy, and finally looked at me and suggested, Katrina – meaning Katherine in french. I was thinking about his suggestion and of course the hurricane Katrina popped into my head so I had a little hesitance in naming my new puppy after a hurricane. He sensed the hesitation and stated “you have something in your head don’t you? I said “it was interesting that he picked a french name, since I had been thinking of  Bijoux meaning” – and he spoke right up – “jewel; oh yes that would fit her perfectly”. I then had to say that “I had some reservations about naming her Bijoux, due to the fact that my husband was a construction guy and I was, well, to be honest, concerned that he would say it incorrectly and not be so politically correct”. Mr. Rather chuckled and then said to me “with those big beautiful blue eyes, I’m sure you can talk him into anything”. Another WOW, I need to remind you that they were more red than blue at the time due my allergic attack, but I did have to ask him “Can I use that line?” He said “sure, it was the truth”.

I said “thank you to him for his help and for taking the time to talk with me and that my new cute little puppy would be named “Bijoux” meaning jewell.

Now you know the story of how my precious Bijoux got her name. She is such a special dog to me, one like I’ve never had before. She is not only extremely cute with her black & white markings, and playful personality, but she is very smart. You see, she has become my Service Dog and is a life saver. Bijoux is one of the small service dogs that  performs her helpful task while I’m sleeping. When my breathing changes (due to severe asthma) she awakes me and I then can attend to it. Cute thing is, she knows she’s special and expects to be with me all the time. Really, she is offended if I leave her and in her cute little dog voice, kind of chews me out so to speak when I come home. A true blessing in the form of a little dog.

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