Gung Hay Fat Choy

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE MUTT

from "The Mutts"

"Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality." -Holly Hartman, http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesenewyear1.html

Those born in ox years (including 2009) tend to be painters, engineers, and architects. They are stable, fearless, obstinate, hard-working and friendly

The Year of the Mutt is a little different. Mutts are fearless, obstinate and of course, friendly! In 2009, the Mutts are reminding everyone to celebrate the most important trait of all -- inclusive exclusivity!

An Inclusive-Exclusive Tale

Inauguration Day - January 20 - the two oldest Mutts were in Washington, DC, holding two of the hottest "blue tickets" in town that would give us inclusive exclusive access to a "close-up" on the swearing in.

It was to be more exclusive than we could have imagined. 4 1/2 hours in the frigid cold, driven like Oxen, in circles. At 10:30am the "Blue Gate" was in sight with only 5,000 others with exclusive access in front of us.

So, a decision was made in keeping with an old Chinese proverb:

"It is not easy to stop the fire when the water is at a distance; friends at hand are better than relations afar off. "

Rushing several blocks in search of a bathroom, warmth and a TV, we joined the celebratory sisters and brothers in a Mexican restaurant. Amidst multiple shots of tequila, the crowd finally beat the loudest brothers into submission so that we could hear.

As the swearing ended, a voice rang out, "When does he get the ring?" We turned, asking, "What ring? He doesn't get a ring; he just gets Air Force One and the keys to the big White House." The voice insisted, "Nah, I know he gets a ring. Bush has to give it to him."

And so, as the shouts of celebration grew louder than the television commentary, we knew (in hindsight, of course) that we had witnessed this moment in complete Inclusive exclusivity!

We leave you with a proverbial Chinese thought:

"A Wise Man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it."

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!