As a child, I yearned for a pet reindeer. My tolerant parents explained that reindeer prefer living farther north. One day, I recall, a little boy arrived at the back door, yelling, “Lady, there’s a reindeer in your yard.” It was love at first sight for me. But, alas! The goat belonged to someone on another street. I always wanted a goat.
My pets loved their unusual names. I named the Rhode Island Red chickens Elsa and Russell Honey. Calling some of the dogs sounded strange in our neighborhood. My dog named 4th of July and another dog named High Water brought notoriety to my parents. Can you imagine calling the dogs to “come?”
Sinder almost lost his happy home for one of his acts. With his black, curly coat and soulful eyes, we trusted him. He managed to destroy my jean vest while he was caged near it. He wiggled the cage close enough to the jacket to pull it into the cage and shred it. Looked a little like fringe when he finished.
Fargo, my current dog, “goes far” with us. Fargo jumps into the car or truck whenever possible. He’s not from Fargo, nor are we.
Recently we visited Jefferson, Texas. The man who sold antiques next door to our Bed and Breakfast offers an array of unique tin animals. When I found the tin goat, excitement blossomed. I didn’t want the turkeys although their colorful tin feathers gleamed in the sunlight. The full size horses and carriage cost $15,000.
I arrived at his door while others still ate breakfast. A few minutes later I coaxed the goat into the back of my husband’s truck for the ride home.
My tin goat needs a name. Three names have been suggested. You, my readers, may find a better name than the suggested ones. I will go with the majority or MOST intriguing. If I can’t decide, I will ask poll my eight grandchildren for the choice. I should say I’ll ask my seven grandchildren, as the baby is thirteen months old and might not understand this craziness.
The three suggested names are:
Jefferson or Jeff for short: I adopted him when we visited Jefferson, Texas.
Billy: because he is obviously male with big horns and “other attributes.”
Caddo: the area around Jefferson originally belonged to the Caddo Indians.
Can’t we find a better name for him? Please send your name, email and phone number to ruth@ruthglover.com no later than 5:00 p.m. on 11/15/16 with your suggestion(s). You will win a free copy of my book Gift of the Suitcase. If you have already read it, it will be a good gift for a friend. The goats’ new name and winner will be announced before Thanksgiving on my Facebook page and in the December newsletter of Roving Ruth. It’s your chance to become the “famous-goat-namer.”
Thank you in advance for helping me name my tin goat.
Happy Thanksgiving. May the old goats in your life fill your life with laughter. Don’t take them too seriously.