Janowitz?

I would like to adopt our foster. There is an omen (in the old sense of the Roman word) that points in that direction, and you know I'm big on omens.

It has to do with the name I hate so much. Thinking of dog names while awake at 3AM and trying to bore myself to sleep, I thought that sometime I should honor the teacher who was instrumental in "unleashing" the me you love. I was a serious, shy, solitary child ... and forced me to be at the forefront of all kinds of events I didn't want to be in. It didn't matter how much I pleaded to leeave me alone, she made me do theater, recite, "cover" for her when she purposefully left the room for no reason .... In a sense, it occurred to me, she did for me what I did for our foster, teaching me how to stand on my own, not be afraid .... teaching me how to walk in life. And it takes more than one's own parents to do that. She was one of two tearchers who I still love today; the other was the art and music teach, Herr Merkel. She was also tall, lanky, and elegant.

Her name was Fraulein Janowitz. I even went to the Web to see if there was some trace to her; she would be only in her late 70s today. Unfortunately, I didn't realize what a common name it is. Well here comes the kicker. "Janowitz is the German from several Slavic toponyms and is the equivalent of, yes, Johnson.

Does this knock you off your chair? Are you amazed and delighted? Do you realize that the gods are speaking? But if you think I'm capitulating, then I won't. I realize that this will be a huge disapointment to Mom, who warned you. I am weak .... but if you had seen her look yesterday, pulling in my direction and refusing to go with two lovely volunteers who were taking her for a walk ....

I don't want to go against your will again; it's not fair. I will just keep going every day to HSPCA to monitor her. I'm concerned, however, to leave her alone this afternoon as I attend the Spanish Christmas dinner and I am almost ready to go. If you read this, please let me know ASAP.

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Reply from Chris:

Do it.