Jimmy Stewart's Ode to his Dog Beau

The video clip below is from an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart was Carson's guest that evening. During the interview, taped 30 years ago in 1981, Stewart decided to read a poem to Carson and the audience. Initially it seemed like a lighthearted moment, evident when both Carson and the audience were laughing during the beginning of the reading. After a few moments it was clear that Stewart was presenting to everyone a very touching moment, words from the soul dedicated to Stewart's beloved dog Beau. Be careful, this video clip will make a grown man cry. Johnny Carson included.



The bond between man and dog is unmistakable to say the least. Jimmy Stewart loved his dog so much that, according to an excerpt from the book Why We Love the Dogs We Do by Stanley Coren, Stewart, who rarely made excessive demands when filming a movie, requested time off to see his ailing dog. Here is what Coren wrote in the book.

...Stewart was making a picture which was shooting on location in Arizona. One evening he got a phone call from his veterinarian, a Dr. Keagy. The call was about Beau. Keagy told him that Beau was very sick. He was having trouble breathing and was in considerable pain. The disease had progressed to the point that it was obvious to Keagy that the dog couldn’t be saved. He was calling for permission to end Beau’s life quickly. Stewart’s wife Gloria said that she couldn’t make that decision since Beau was Jimmy’s dog. “I can’t just tell you to put him to sleep like this,” Stewart said, “Not over the phone–not without seeing him. You keep him alive and I’ll be there.” Stewart was always known as an easy actor to work with, who never made excessive demands. So, the director was taken aback when he went to him to ask for a few days off to fly home to see to his dog. The leave was granted and Stewart got to sit with Beau for a long while before making the decision. He later admitted that when he left the veterinarian’s office he had to sit in his car for around 10 minutes, just to clear his eyes of tears, so that it would be safe to drive home.

Here is a transcript of the poem, courtesy of Dogster.com.

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn’t come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn’t drag.
He’d dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I’d grab him, he’d turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn’t read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story’s long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house–
I guess I’m the first to retire.
And as I’d leave the room he’d look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I’d give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I’d fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He’d tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I’d feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I’d pat his head.

And there were nights when I’d feel this stare
And I’d wake up and he’d be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I’d feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he’d be glad to have me near.

And now he’s dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he’s not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so,
I’ll always love a dog named Beau.

Even though both Stewart and Carson have long passed, it's good to have online video services like Youtube keep their memories alive so we can enjoy cherishable moments like Jimmy Stewart's ode to his dog, Beau.

Holiday Gift Guide for Surfers

There's still plenty of time left before the holiday season wraps up. If you're like me and have trouble trying to come up with good gift ideas for the ones you love, this gift guide will hopefully make things a little easier. These items cover a wide range of category and price, and will definitely make the surfer opening their gift a very happy person.

Quiksilver Moondak Watch

Tide watches are one of the best gifts to buy for a surfer, and the Quiksilver Moondak Watch is no exception. 15 years of pre-programmed tide data for 200 spots around the world, 24 hour high resolution graphic display of tide movement, water height measured in feet, meters or coefficient, dual time, dual alarm and countdown timer, electroluminescent night dial and a marine-grade stainless steel buckle makes this one of the best tide watches in the market.

FCS Mission Premium Backpack

FCS makes some of the best surf hardware in the business. It's no wonder the greatest surfer ever Kelly Slater is sponsored by FCS. The Mission Premium Backpack includes a side entry rear compartment with neoprene laptop suspension harness, a storable polyester raincoat to cover the backpack, and two fleece lined pockets for MP3 players and sunglasses. FCS products are very durable and do their job very well.

Sanuk Lumber Jack Chill

Sanuk, known by their slogan as being sandals, not shoes, are some of the most comfortable footwear you’ll find in the market. They fit similar to a flip flop, so when buying it as a gift item purchase the next size up (this applies more to men than women). The Lumber Jack Chill is perfect for the winter season, especially with a fleece lining making it perfect for cold weather, and the molded footbed is lightweight with cushioning.

Rhythm Stock Rock Hoodie

Rhythm is a newer surf brand that is growing in popularity thanks to their popular styles and very comfortable clothes. The Rhythm Stock Rock Hoodie is a great gift for the person who needs something casual, stylish and comfortable.

Yellow Leaf Hammock

Hammocks represent comfort and relaxation. A Yellow Leaf Hammock is the perfect place to go to after a surf session to read a book, take a nap or just relax. Yellow Leaf Hammocks are socially conscience, eco-friendly and very high quality.

Quiksilver NFL Boardshort

Quiksilver has produced their limited edition NFL Boardshorts to represent just the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and both the New York Jets and Giants teams. Still, if the person you’re shopping for roots for one of these teams, this is a great gift. Quiksilver’s NFL Boardshorts includes the comfort of their patented Diamond Dobby DLX™ technology, which prevents the chaffing one who wears boardshorts is usually accustomed to.

Trunq Sport Utility Box

A Trunq Sport Utility Box allows you to store all of your surfing gear in a 15 gallon tub. Made from Recycled Plastic in California, Trunq has a large storage area for wet gear, an insert tray for dry gear, a change mat to stand on after surfing, a lock to protect the content inside the Trunq, and allows you to be organized and keep your car clean.

Quiksilver Ice Beanie

Keep your head warm in style with this affordable gift that any surfer will enjoy, especially after a cold surf session. 100% Acrylic fold up beanie. One size fits most. Soft and comfortable.

ZOK Zippered Surf Sock

For the surfer who prefers to keep their surfboard protected with a sock. Zok not only offers a great surf sock, but unlike other surf socks ZOK makes theirs with a zipper to make it much easier to take the sock on and off the board. A nylon protection runs the length of the zipper to keep it from making contact with your board. Includes 3 mesh pockets, the middle to secure the tail of your board for easy usage when zipping the ZOK open or closed. The other two interior pockets can be used as storage for slippers, hats, keys, board wax or whatever fits your need. All pockets are conveniently made out of mesh to ensure the escape of excess sand.

Rusty Wired Bombastic Hoody

Rusty brings you The Wired Series, featuring HB3 Technology™, the most innovative fleece in the action sports industry that merges music, board riding and fashion like never before. The Wired Series is a collection of hooded fleece with headphones built right into the draw cords and the pocket features a jack that connects to your music player. Built with HB3 Technology™, Wired Series fleece are completely machine washable - that means there’s no need to remove the ear buds or take out the wire when you throw it in the wash. It's amazing that more people have not caught on to Rusty's Wired Series. The Bombastic is our preferred choice, although Rusty has a wide variety of Wired hoodies to choose from.


Rusty Wired Basic Hoody

Rusty's Wired Series also has hoodies for women. The Wired Series is a collection of hooded fleece with headphones built right into the draw cords and the pocket features a jack that connects to your music player. Built with HB3 Technology™, Wired Series fleece are completely machine washable - that means there’s no need to remove the ear buds or take out the wire when you throw it in the wash. It's amazing that more people have not caught on to Rusty's Wired Series. The Basic is our preferred choice for women, although Rusty has a wide variety of Wired hoodies to choose from.

Surfline Premium Membership

Surfline.com offers the best range of high definition webcams in the world. Their surf forecasting is average at best, especially in the Northern California region, but the ability to enjoy an HD view of your favorite surf spot prior to heading out to surf is hard to beat. A Surfline Premium Membership allows you to enjoy these webcams without any commercial interruptions, and includes access to a live HD webcam on your phone. This is a fantastic gift that is sure to put a big smile on your loved one's face.

Surf's Pup Waterproof Dog Leash and Collar

For the dog owning surfer in your family. Surf's Pup is a new company that offers waterproof, adjustable, recycled locally handmade dog collars and leashes with bags to match for their owners. The leashes and collars are made out of recycled spinnaker sails and are made in the USA. You don't have to worry about washing the saltwater out of your dog's collar and leash the next time you take your best friend to the beach.

Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist

Dogwild & Board is a book that features a collection of stories, interviews and musings that offer rare insights into the world of surfing and beyond. Over half the book features the words of Jack Johnson, Kelly Slater, Edward Norton, Greg Noll, Laird Hamilton, Shaun White, Johnny Knoxville, Tony Hawk, Tom Curren, Shaun Tomson, Greg Long, Rob Machado, Marissa Miller, Rob Dyrdek and many more. The book has received rave reviews. Amazon is currently offering 10% off the regular price with free shipping. Great gift or stocking stuffer.

Holiday Gift Basket Party and Book Signing at Longboard Vineyards This Saturday, December 3rd

Longboard Vineyards is considered to be the winery for surfers. Owned and operated by Oded Shakked, who grew up surfing the Mediterranean, studied winemaking at UC Davis and is a regular at most surf events, Longboard Vineywards is a winery located in Healdsburg that features longboards hanging from the ceiling of the tasting room with a TV showcasing big wave surfing videos. With the holiday season kicking into full gear, Longboard Vineyards is hosting a Holiday Gift Basket Party this Saturday, December 3rd from Noon - 4 PM that includes a book signing of Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist.

In addition to autographed copies of Dogwild & Board, tables will be featured throughout the winery with numerous different items available for visitors to create their own gift basket. Gift items include chocolate truffles courtesy of Truffle Gateau, olive oil by Merchants and Millers, cheeses made from Healdsburg Cheese Shop, and of course the many different varieties of Longboard Vineyards' excellent selection of wines.

Numerous vendors will have tables setup to fill gift baskets, and a company called Wine Stars will provide wrapping and packing services for gift baskets.  There will be numerous other merchants at the event offering merchandise and other gift items to help out with your holiday shopping.  If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, come check out the Holiday Gift Basket Party this Saturday, December 3rd from Noon - 4 PM at Longboard Vineyards 5 Fitch Street in Healdsburg.  Drink some wine, purchase an autographed copy of Dogwild & Board, and cross off numerous names and items from your holiday shopping list while getting your buzz on.