COMPANIONS OF THE HEART (part 2)

As far as memory serves me, my vicarious experiences with animals, started when my sister Geraldine and I regularly attended the KEIO (local radio station in Pocatello Idaho in 1940’s) KIDS KLUB at the Chief Theater. Besides the weekly ‘adventure cereals’ and that week’s movie there was a talent show and since the KEIO KIDS KLUB was sponsored by the local potato bread company they always threw out loaves of bread liberally to the audience. I still remember eating that potato bread during the movie as being more enjoyable than buttered popcorn, and I really like buttered popcorn when watching a movie.

Besides the movies of my heroes, Hoot Gibson, Gene Autry, Red Rider and Roy Rodgers there are four movies which really seem to be locked in my mind from those delightful Saturdays spent with my sister and friends. One of them was a terrible film which should never have been shown to an audience of kids. This film in black and white (as were most of the movies of my younger days) portrayed the deteriorating life of a carnival worker who, through the misuse of alcohol, destroyed his life and that of his loved ones. I have often wished there was some way to relegate the ugliness and trauma of that movie to the un-recallable foggy cells of my memory. Maybe the intent of the theater owners was to discourage the youth of Pocatello from partaking of the demon rum.

The other three movies were about animals, ‘Bambi,’ ‘The Yearling,’ and the last which I think was called ‘The Egg Eater.’

Sometime during the process of coming into mortality I seemed to have been given an abundance of sensitivity and emotionalism which not only surfaced when our Irish setter met his demise, but also pours forth in what I call happy-sadness in movies. I cry happy! No matter how I might have tried to stem the tide, it was always a vain attempt when I tried keeping my companions from noticing my tearful reaction during happy-sadness movies.

I was recently thrilled to see the re-release of the birth, the life and struggles of Bambi, which in my mind will forever be one of those films which will perpetuate the name of Disney.

The Yearling was about a young boy and the growth he experiences as he finds and cares for an abandoned fawn. Eventually, he must choose the greater good by allowing his beloved friend the opportunity to find happiness in its natural habitat.

The least known of these movies which I think was called The Egg Eater was about a dog which was mistreated and maligned unjustly because he was thought to have been raiding the family’s chicken coop and eating the eggs. The sad picture ends happy when the dog is vindicated when he saves the henhouse from the invading fox who had been the guilty raider all along.

As one generation rolled into another, in my early days of fatherhood, I watched my children as they were moved and enraptured watching Lassie, Black Beauty, Benji, Old Yeller and even Mister Ed. Their attention wouldn’t even waver as they listen to the droning of unexcited voices narrating the first of what would become a multitude of nature and wildlife shows. No wonder I am not astounded when my grandchildren tell me that their favorite channel is Planet Earth or any show that shows the wonders of the animal kingdom. The upcoming generations who tire easily while shopping seem to have boundless energy when wandering through zoos, animal parks and sea worlds.

I know my personal joys and weaknesses concerning animals, but I have pondered about the almost universal magnetism which seems to draw children into a mesmerized semi-fascination state as they interact with the animal kingdom in real life or vicariously. The medium doesn’t seem to matter, be it live interaction, television, movies, comic books or adventure novels; children find lovability and believability as writers attempt to humanize dogs, cats, pigs, horses and all their cousins.

Another interesting phenomenon which I have observed is that children who mock and treat with ridicule their friends and family, often treat animals with great patience and lovingness. Also, care givers of the elderly are now finding that troubled minds can be soothed with the companionship of a lap dog.

The whys may not be totally known and may not be important but there seems to be a universal value of having children of all ages interact with the animal kingdom through touching and caring and even through the semi-reality of the media.

Children who have meaningful experiences with a pet seem to grow into adults who have gained a meaningful reverence for life. The attributes which accompany the nurturing and caring for an animal are most often carried over into families yet to come, bringing responsibility and a sense of sacrifice for meaningful others.

Parents may be wise to weigh the eventual results of their actions the next time they are tempted to get rid of the cat because of the inconvenience, or turn off Animal Kingdom in favor of the latest half hour sit-com.

I believe parents have a stewardship to make sure they provide opportunities for their children which will help them become responsive, caring adults. A quick stop at the pet store in the mall or watching the most current Rin Tin Tin might just provide one of those valuable teaching moments.

As a personal note, I believe that even the negative events which might accompany the companionship of a loving buddy, serve as catalyst for the softening and rounding of our rougher edges. I am also just as sure that Heaven cannot be heavenly if the whole of the animal kingdom is not there.

I apologies to all of you who are much younger than my generation and who have no idea concerning many of the referenced shows or animals. I hope you will in some way be able to transfer the thought into your own personal set of references.