John Hixon's Gang

Caroline and Luger -- Uzi's photo was unavailable.

The speaker after lunch at the Kiwanis Club was personal security specialist, Joyce Chamberlain. She gave us several suggestions on how to protect ourselves. Some of the suggestions, I’ve never forgotten.  The event at which she spoke occurred over twenty years ago.

Just after the turn of the century, my wife and I moved to an area of town that had endured some vandalism and some break-ins.  We used one of Joyce’s ideas.  We purchased an oversized dog dish and gave it a highly visible location on the front porch. My wife came up with a creative breed of dog, and Uzi, the German-pit-weiler was born.  It’s hard to say for

Our cat, Boris in Uzi's dish.  

sure that Uzi’s clearly labeled dish helped prevent any unwanted visitors, but it certainly scared off the neighbor’s grandson.

In my first book, The Tourist Killer, there were a couple of scenes in which it was revealed that Hixon had several dogs. More recently, in my second novel, The Presidents Club, it is made clear that our favorite ex-FBI agent has three dogs. Of course, one of them is Uzi. For the other two, I wanted one to be a breed that enjoyed a vicious (though not necessarily warranted) reputation so it was a Doberman Pinscher named Luger.  Finally, since Hixon lived out in the mountains, he insisted on a hound.

According to Wikipedia, “Bavarian mountain hounds are calm, quiet, poised, and very attached to their masters and family. When hunting, they are hard, single-minded, and persistent. Courageous, spirited, fast, and agile, they are at ease on a rugged terrain, with a superb nose and powerful hunting instinct.

“The Bavarian Mountain is not suited for city life. It is in regular need of space and exercise and also requires regular brushing. They are not dogs for the casual hunter. Most are owned and used by foresters and game wardens.”

John Hixon’s third canine companion became Caroline, a loyal Bavarian mountain hound to whom he reads.

Together, he refers to them as his “gang.”

Will they come through for him when the chips are down?

Which dog(s) will make it to the last page?

Become a regular reader of this serial novel and find out the answers to these questions and many more.

Father's Day 2011

"Love is like a dying ember
Only memories remain.
And through the ages I'll remember...." -- Fred Rose


Remember the day you learned how to ride a bicycle.
Remember the day you learned how to throw a ball.
Remember the day you learned how to use a hammer -- and maybe a saw.


Who taught you how to plant a tree?
Who taught you how to paint?
Who taught you how to drive?


Who helped you rake the leaves?
Who helped you build your first fire (either camp or in the fireplace)?
Who helped you with your homework?


Do you know how to use a compass?
Do you know how to use a firearm safely? (See photo -- my Dad taught me to hunt.)
Do you know how to bar-be-que?


These are just a dozen experiences my father shared with me. No doubt many readers will identify. It's also likely that many readers will have shared these experiences not with their biological fathers, but step-fathers, other father-figures (uncles, brothers, cousins, family friends), or their mothers.


If this significant person in your life is gone now (either literally or figuratively), as is mine, perhaps we can share a moment in reflection and remember them today. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my father who died in 2005. In fact, my associates will tell you that I quote my father perhaps more than anyone else, except George Patton.


As I get older, the memories do remain and remind me of the love we shared.