The next morning I called our neighbors and asked how much the puppies were. They said “$250, but they would sell her to me for $200.” At that time they might as well have said a thousand, but I decided that my rainy day fund could help me out this one time and paid the full $250. I wasn’t going to treat this pick of the litter with anything but top dollar.

While Chauncey was still not very happy about our new roommate, she adjusted because the puppy hero-worshiped her. I always thought that I trained the puppy, but looking back I realize now that it was Chauncey who taught the puppy how to raise a human.

Eventually after many name tries (Clancy, Mary Posa, etc.), we settled on Faux Marble because her coat looked like fake marble. Over the years, she grew from an adorable puppy to a rather beautiful Aussie (pictured). Yet, she retained her Miss Congeniality title with everyone and every dog that she met.

She excelled in her puppy obedience, so much so that she moved up in the ranks to advanced, super duper obedience. There was talk of her competing in trials, but I decided that she wasn’t meant for that.

Then one day I read a notice in the paper that Baylor University Medical Center‘s animal-assisted therapy program was testing candidates for its program. It sounded interesting and I thought it would be nice for Faux to have people pat her on the head. After all, what more does a therapy dog do, but visit people in the waiting room? So, we signed up for the test.

While the test for the program is different each time, the Baylor test under the direction of Linda Marler is right up there with facing the Supreme Court. As we waited in the outer room for our turn, we watched other canine/human partners leave the testing area looking like they had just weathered the Iditarod. What had I gotten us into?

As we were called into the room filled with veteran teams of the therapy program, I hesitated but Faux pulled the leash and headed into the room as if she knew exactly what to do. During the test, they did all types of things to rattle us. I was a bit shell shocked, but Faux never wavered. It was as if she had been studying for this opportunity all of her life. At the end of the test, Linda announced to the veteran therapy program teams that Faux had passed the test with flying colors. I think they let me in because Faux was so outstanding.

That day led to a journey taking us far beyond the waiting rooms. We would work in various areas of Baylor — the Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation, the psych unit, the transplant floor, and Our Children’s House. Faux would do tricks to entertain both patients and staff. She especially loved the staff who always greeted her with special pats and knew just the right spot to scratch.

But it wasn’t all tricks like shake, sit, and down. No, the dogs were expected to work with the patients and therapists. While at home the canines were just regular pooches, but once inside Baylor they became working staff demonstrating patience and showing no apprehension of the equipment, noises, and smells in the facility. They proudly wore their uniforms of blue bandannas, leashes, and collars. You got the impression that these dogs knew they had a talent and an awareness like the rescue dogs in Haiti or the service dogs that aid the blind. They were simply cut out for this type of work and thrived on it.

What amazed me about Faux and the other dogs in the program was how time and time again they would sense a patient who needed a certain type of attention. They tended to gravitate to the patient who had left a pet at home weeks ago and needed some “unconditional medicine” that wasn’t in medical books. Simply by putting her head on the knee of someone, or letting a child pull a little too long on her ear, she just knew how to handle those moments without a word being said.

I would kiddingly say that she was the volunteer and I was simply her escort.

But it wasn’t all work. There was the infamous annual Pink Pooch Parade at Baylor’s Plano facility in October. Each of the poor therapy dogs was humiliated by being dressed in various pink outfits and then paraded through the hospital as part of breast cancer awareness month. It was at this time that Faux thought I was akin to a stage mother of a baby beauty contestant.

One of the lessons that I learned from the program was the phrase, “crossing the rainbow bridge.” I had never heard of it. But every now and then I would get an email from Linda that one of the dogs in the program had died, or “crossed over the rainbow bridge.” It was a painful email that all the program teams dreaded. Not only for the loss of a marvelously giving animal, but also because we knew that one day it would hit our team.

This morning Baylor lost one of its volunteers. Faux crossed the rainbow bridge.

Luckily, the behind-the-scene organizers had a video of Deedie talking about the gift. Two million dollars of the gift will be be “used to establish the Dallas CityDesign Studio to expand the city’s design efforts for planning and development.” The studio will be funded for five years with three full-time positions created and paid for by the Trinity Trust until 2014-2015 when the city will assume the entire cost.

Actually the gift should surprise absolutely no one. Just this past January, the Roses donated “$1M to the school of architecture at the University of Texas at Austin to fund two endowments in urban planning.”

And on September 26, they were also the Platinum Underwriters for the Dallas chapter of the American Institute of Architects’s CelebrateArchitecture! 2009 Gala that honored 13 organizations and individuals for their distinguished contributions to the city’s cultural and architectural achievements.

Despite the missing Deedie, the ladies who lead were well represented by Emily Summers, Bess Enloe, Nancy K. Marcus, Caren Prothro, and Mary McDermott Cook (pictured from the left), who were either taking the Girl Scout oath or giving a sign of “victory” for Dallas.

Score another gift for The Trinity Trust team. Score another generous example of philanthropy by the Roses.

What the heck is the Dallas CityDesign Studio?  Housed in Dallas City Hall, the Studio will work collaboratively to advise, plan, and consult with public and private entities onthe imoprtance of urban design in the 21st century Dallas. This resource center at City Hall wil engage, advise, and support work focused both outside the levees, particularly as potential development occurs, and on the Trinity River Corridor Project.

Just wait until Tuesday when the names and details are revealed at 10 a.m. in the Flag Room of City Hall. In the crowd will be the Trinity Trust team members, city officials, and reps from the American Institute of Architects Dallas and the Real Estate Council.

Evidently the gift wrap is taking a little bit longer than expected, so the announcement is tentatively rescheduled for some time next week.

Just wanted to keep you on top of things.

Just as folks were getting comfortable with the beautiful night and looking at the beginning construction of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Brenda Teele Jackson in her most exuberant cheerleader voice took over the MC duties. And while audience participation works when it comes to doing the wave at Cowboys Stadium, this group seemed a little shy. At one point BTJ urged the crowd to cheer on a bus approaching on the bridge. Ah, but this bus was worth the coaxing. Within it were Bridge Kids Mary McDermott Cook and Lyda Hunt Hill, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, bridge designer Santiago Calatrava, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, and a whole bunch of other VIF (very important folks) sans Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who couldn’t make it in body but was there in spirit. They all seemed to enjoy the DART ride. (Wait til they try the Green Line to Fair Park!)

Then the evening turned into a high school pep rally, with motivational ramp-ups from the likes of Leppert, Calatrava, and Hutchison (pictured). Santiago even autographed t-shirts and other things.  

Somewhere in the sis-boom-bah, Mayor Leppert told the crowd a secret. Now, don’t tell anyone, because Tom asked us to keep it under wraps, but next Friday those wonderful Trinity Trust minions are going to make another $5M gift announcement. Remember, you’re sworn to secrecy.

Then there was a countdown for a big  . . . big. . .  fireworks display. Well, we got two nice fireworks and then nada. One man in the crowd said, “Is that all there is?” Everyone within earshot looked at him in disappointment.

Just as they were heading to the valet lineup, though, the rest of the really big fireworks display commenced just behind the construction of the MHH Bridge. It razzled, dazzled, and oozed explosive beauty. You just know the guys at Lew Sterrett wondered if the terrorists had taken over the Trinity.

The “living bridge,” which will be undertaken following the completion of the Santiago Calatrava-designed signature bridge, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, will be “an outdoor venue for walkers, bikers, and potentially, a future trolley line across the Trinity River,” according to Mary.

It just so happens that the Continental Bridge is where tomorrow night’s “Bridge Fair” is taking place.

Looks like Mary is going to have to write a whopping thank you note.

Stay tuned. SweetCharity will not only let you know what the surprise is, but we’ll also let you know where to head for Friday’s fun at the bridge.

Then the group got down to the party planning business. The Friday, September 25, party to celebrate construction of the Santiago Calatrava signature Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is on regardless of the weather. The Todd Fiscus troops are in charge of transforming the Continental Bridge into a Bridge Fair complete with Vodka snow cones, a taco truck, numerous bridge food stations, entertainment by Dallas Disc Jockette Lucy Wrubel and Boys Named Sue, and surprises. Tickets are still available!

And even bridge mastermind Santiago Calatrava himself will be in town to celebrate the construction of his first vehicular bridge in the U.S.

But what do you do if the rain falls on that night? Never fear. These veterans of galas already have a contingency plan lined up. SweetCharity will let you know where to head if the plan is needed.

In the meantime while you pick out your best bridge attire, here is some insider info on the bridge building group: Trinity Trust Board of Directors Chair Mary McDermott Cook, Honorary Event Chairs Al Hill Jr. and sisters Lyda Hill and hostess Alinda have been nicknamed “The Bridge Kids,” since two of the bridges are named in honor of their mothers (Margaret McDermott and the late Margaret Hunt Hill). . . . Speaking of Margaret McD, did you know that prior to marrying Eugene McDermott, she caught the bouquet at Margaret Hill’s wedding on October 15, 1938, to Al Hill Sr.?