In the fall of 2001, America was reeling from the shock of the Terrorist Attacks on NY and the Pentagon. The week of September 11th, I had been scheduled to go to NYC on Thursday to conduct a training session for Aspect – of course, that session was cancelled.

Three weeks later – still in shock, but business must go on – I re-scheduled the training: the trip would now include Boston, and then New York. I worked out the days so Juli could come with me (never pass up a chance to deliver my Bride to a major urban shopping opportunity!). We put DelRay in to board at University Vet in Fairfax, and Juli and I hopped a train.

Boston was first, and the following day we trained down to New York. Juli shopped while I taught. At the end of the session, I left, and joined Juli on the streets of Manhattan on a beautiful afternoon.

We stopped into a pet store on Lexington to get some kitty treats for Delray, lest we encounter the Dread No-Treats Syndrome*. The store was one of those “shotgun” types – a long but narrow floorplan, commonly found in the city (you Burbians may not be familiar with the type). Down the right side, and across the rear wall, were kennel cages filled with puppies – mostly Poodles, Bichon Frise's, and other blisteringly-white “frou-frou” dogs.

But… all the way in the back, there was this little wheaten-colored ball of scraggly fluff with huge brown eyes, who cocked his head, looked me dead in the eye, and let out a single, soft whine – I heard him from where I stood.

I made a beeline toward the rear, with Juli following me. The salesgirl asked if she could be of service. I indicated the ball of scraggly fluff, who was looking straight at me, silent, calm.

“Please put the puppy in my arms,” I said.
“You know what’s going to happen!” warned Juli.
“Nonetheless,” I repeated, “please put the puppy in my arms.”

The scraggly ball of fluff was delivered to my arms, and he looked up at me, sighed, and dropped his little chin on my forearm… and that was pretty much it! I could read his mind completely, word for word.

He said “Hey, Dad, you made it! The Government just sent you a pick refund check and you’re going to cash it and move some money around and come back for me because even though I’m a pure-bred pup we pure-bred puppies need love too, and you’re going to cancel your Amtrak tickets and see if you can rent a car because Amtrak doesn’t allow pets and you’re going to come back tomorrow and pick me up and we’re going to go to your house (wherever that is) and we’re going to be absolute best friends forever!”

They wouldn’t let us buy him that day – it was late, they were about to close, and they warned us that particular pup – a Cairn Terrier, was a particularly-demanding breed (kudos to them for doing Due Diligence). We bought the book, and left.

The next morning, at Starbucks, Juli asked when we were going t pick up the pup. It took some calling around, but we pulled off all the preparations , went back to the store, paid for him, and promised to stop back later that day: Juli and I had a date atop the Empire State Building, which had opened for the first time (a single day) since the attacks.

After viewing the tragically-altered skyline, we went to Hertz, picked up the car, and I drove us back to Lex, where Juli dashed inside and picked up the pup.

Juli emerges from American Kennels with the puppy, who is enconsed inside the blue box. The accompanying bag is filled with puppy food, treats, vitamins, and the other related minutae of puppydom.

Once inside our rented Chrysler, we popped the little guy out of his box, and he nestled with Juli for the long drive home.

Aside from one frightened moment as we emerged from the tunnel, he seemed to realize that he was in very good hands.

Since then, he’s been the most loyal, happy little guy imaginable. Wherever I go, he’s trotting along beside me, he rides my mountain bike with me (in a milk crate I bolted to the rear), on the motorcycle in a puppy-carrier… you name it, if I’m headed somewhere that doesn’t specifically prohibit dogs, he’s along with me!
Maximus, having just arrived home from NYC, on his first morning with us.
Playing with Frisbee. At one point, shortly after this incredible action photo, he got conked on the head with it, and has been shy of playing catch ever since.
At Puppy Socialization Class, Max frolics with Shelby, his first crush.
O, Noble and Stout Pup! According to our trainer, Max is "the equivalent of a non-verbal five-year-old" - which is more intelligence than President George Weasel Bush routinely displays. Oh - and Max is honest, too.
On the weekends, Max sleeps upstairs with us, and when Max was really young, the staircase was too intimidating for him, so he'd just snuggle with Juli if I left. One weekend morning, I woke up and went downstairs to cook some breakfast - and when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard this determined (yet pathetic) wheezing and grunting behind me. I knew exactly what it must be, and grabbed the camera... in time to catch Max's first descent down a staircase in his short little life!
Me and my little bud, chillin' on the Mall.
Two handsome kids, playing in the sunshine in late 2001.
One Nation, under God, with Liberty and Puppies for all! As a Cairn Terrier in Washington DC, hopefully he can rout all the Weasels. If not, we're Canada Bound.
Max loves the City - not surprising, given his Manhattan origin. He welcomes any opportunity to travel with me, no matter where we're going - but he really is happiest where there's hustle and bustle.
Waiting patiently for me at Great Falls Park, Maximus takes his puppily ease in the shade while I walk across the bridge for some photos.
Me and Maximus, during his first Christmassy Foray into Eastern Market - in search of a Goose.
Our little hero gazes across the Potomac, thinking deep puppily thoughts, and ponders the life that lays before him.
We wanted him to have a Roman name, which would befit his pride and alpha-dog personality… which was evident even as a puppy. Finally, we decided on Maximus (not realizing at the time that “Max” is, like, the most common dog name in existence). He’s a Cairn Terrier, purebred, and is registered with the AKC under his full name “Maximus Cuteness Puppicles”.
Maximus "assumes the position".