Tuesday, August 7, 2007

A New Postulant



Ozzy impersonating a good puppy!









A few weeks ago after a particularly tiresome dust storm, the monks found a very small puppy sheltering under one of the monastery cars. The pup was about 6 weeks old and seems to be part blue heeler/som
e Australian shepherd. Promptly named Ozzy, the pup is now in training for the monastic life. The cats cut him more slack than anyone dared hope and now he has settled in to his position around the monastery as the lowest member of the pack.

When I first saw him he was entertaining himself by attacking anyone who walked by wearing a habit--the shoes and swinging hemlines provide an endless stream of attack targets. There is a new monk walk now--walk, waddle out of way of nipping pup, stumble over streaking dog, shake dog off shoes, repeat sequence until the pup gets distracted by the next passing monk. He is quite the cutie and has the makings of a good desert dog.
The encounter I witnessed with the Abbot and Ozzy was a hoot. Fr. Nickolas was trying to give a blessing to some guests who were leaving after Liturgy when Ozzy came flying out of his hiding place. I had my camera at the ready and will try and recreate the skill and professionalism of the Abbot. Without missing a beat he bestowed the blessing
while having Ozzy go under his habit,
(In the Name of the Father.......)
tangle up first one foot
(....and of the Son.......)
and then both feet in the leash
(...and of the Holy Spirit......)
and then finished up by chomping on an ankle!

(..Amen! and OUCH!!!!!)














Welcome, Ozzy!!!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

That is one cute pup.

But this postulant is going to have to learn to be discreet and not draw attention to himself