My wife rescued Rufus from an animal shelter 5 years ago. He performs the greatest trick in the world. “Making me smile even when I don’t feel like smiling.

Rufus loves the motorcycle and has seen a lot of country perched on this bike. He sits on a special platform on the tank and is tethered to my neck for safety. When it comes to water, don’t even think about floating the river without Rufus. He loves to put his life jacket on and go in the raft. He is the captain and standing watch on the bow searching for something, maybe pirates, or floating seaweed?

I am sure my wife has spoiled him since he needs to be the center of attention. He goes crazy over anything with wheels and rides on the motorcycle, tractor, in the wheelbarrow, and car. He even goes on cattle drives. He literally pouts like child if he is left out of anything. When I pack a suitcase to travel, he jumps in as if to say, “don’t forget me...” Funny, when Rufus speaks, we always seem to understand what he wants.

When God gives you a wife and a buddy like this, it makes life pretty sweet.

Now for the rest of the story…
Our grandson, Taylor (4 years old at the time) and his mom Janiece volunteer to walk the dogs at the shelter and they would give the dogs a name while walking them. He decided this was the dog for Grandma and named him “Watermelon”? (What can I say; he was 4 years old…) My wife, Jan, drove to Pasco, WA to see them and she fell in love with Rufus and brought him home to Montana. Upon arriving home after 10 hours in the car with this newly adopted dog, he jumped out and ran to me as if I was his best friend. We changed his name to Rufus T. Watermelon. The “T” stands for Traitor since he was suppose to be my wife’s buddy but he is nearly glued to me.