What's in a name anyway...

"What's her name?"

A common question. Each and every time I take Kona out on a therapy visit, I get asked the same question. "What's her name?" "His name is Kona," I say with a smile. "Oh, she's a boy?" they ask. "Yes, he's a boy...." and on and on it goes.

The other day, while I was at a senior care facility with my Love on a Leash team mate Marilyn and her boy Brutus, we had to giggle a bit. A lot of the folks we visit with are hard of hearing. That is certainly no surprise. They always ask what our dogs names are, and of course we tell them. Here is how the conversations went the other day.

Marilyn: Hi, would you like a visit with the dogs today?

Mr. A: Sure, what's your dog's name?

Marilyn: His name is Brutus.

Mr. A: Rita?

Marilyn: No, not Rita, his name is Brutus.

Mr. A: Oh! Her name is Theresa!

Marilyn: No, his name is. Brutus. Like Popeye and Brutus.

Mr. A: Oh! Brutus!

Marilyn: Yes! His name is Brutus.

Mr. A: And what's your dog's name?

Me: This is Kona.

Mr. A: Kona?

Me: Yes, Kona. (I smile, and wink at Marilyn)

Mr. A: Nice dogs....

Next room.

Mr. B. : Oh, pretty dogs, what are their names?

Marilyn: This is Brutus and this is Kona.

Mr. B: Theresa?

Marilyn: No, this is Brutus. Like Popeye and Brutus.

Mr. B: Well, hello there Popeye.

Marilyn just smiled. On to the next room...same story.

Mr. C: What's your dog's name?

Me: This is Kona. He's a 3 year old Golden Retriever.

Mr. C: Conan? Like the Barbarian?

Me: No sir, Kona, K-O-N-A.

Mr. C: Like Conan O'brian?

Me: No sir, Kona, like Kona Hawaii, or Kona coffee.

Mr. C: I like don't coffee.

Me: Have a nice day sir, see you next time.

Next room.

Mrs. D: OH! Such pretty doggies! Let me see them! What are their names?

Marilyn: This is Kona and this is Brutus.

Mrs. D: They are so beautiful!

Both of us: Thank you! We sure think so!

Mrs. D: Their fur is so nice and soft.

Marilyn: They are pretty aren't they, like Ebony and Ivory?

Mrs. D: Which one is which?

Marilyn: Oh, no, that's not their names....

Mrs. D to her roommate: Look at these beautiful dogs! They are named Ebony and Ivory! Aren't they pretty!

On to the next room...

Mr. E.: What's your dog's name?

Me. His name is Kona.

Mr. E: His name is Kona?

Me: Yes, that's right, Kona.

We chat for a couple of minutes, and as we leave I hear Mr. E say to his roommate, "Who the hell would name their dog Coma?"

Yup, Merry Christmas, with love from Theresa and Coma.