My nine year old dachshund is a great teacher in how to treat people. No matter what you do or say to bubba, he loves you any way, no preconditions. He doesn't hold grudges.  When I come home from work , he is always the first to greet me. He sleeps with my wife and I at nights. He has his spot in the bed just like us. He is definately a part of the family. I am going to give a speech in honor of Bubba at  our Humorous Speech Contest for Toastmasters International coming up on Sept. 14,2010 in Jacksonville, N.C.  The speech has to be from five to seven minutes long. That is going to be the hard part. It is hard to tell an ongoing nine year old story in seven minutes. I will make it happen. I hope my speech will honor him and tell my organization what a fine dog he has been to me and my family. Here's to my friend, Bubba