He is humble and willing to be a servant to anyone, not only
his so called “master” who he’s had buffaloed since the day we met. The only
caveat is he must be paid for doing a service unlike when he was “little Norton
and not Mr. Norton.”
He is good for physical and mental health of MORC employees.
When he lies in the hall protecting Mike Tripp, the entire staff and I from any
would-be terrorists as a watchdog, passersby have to jump over him, thereby
getting some good cardio exercise. “Dead dog in hallways,” a top-notch
executive and liberator of people has said more than once in silent admiration.
His gentle soul attracts both males and females and I’m sure
it lowers their blood pressure when they pet him (even though many with Ph.Ds,
M.D.s and Masters degrees have demonstrated any ability to read his vest: “Do
not pet me, I am working.”) This is his master’s weakness for he can’t say no
to anything that might lift morale. (BTW, Mr. Norton is amazingly gifted at
attracting males and females. He can be rented for one hour on any Saturday for
$50. His owner (a former mediocre writer of little note) guarantees Mr. Norton
will attract a lovely companion for any lonely soul. He plays the field,
especially catching yellow tennis balls in the tall grass.
He keeps the MORC grounds free of geese. Well, sort of. H-R
Director Mr. Peter Lynch takes him out there and the geese instinctively think
Mr. Norton is going to chase and eat them. Highly doubtful. Mr. Norton wouldn’t
know how to prepare Fois Gras even if his French-Canadian mother gave him the
menu in Francais.
Mr. Norton is excellent at working a crowd and taking charge
of a situation. Until his owner intervened, Mr. Norton had one big con job
going on by stopping at the doors of wonderful people and co-workers and
conning them out of a treat, both morning and afternoon. He can get to Marcia
Marklin’s office in 10 seconds, showing he is an example of how good and
valuable it is to be in good aerobic shape.
Mr. Norton keeps vermin and such out of MORC. One day as he
was on duty, a mouse ran over him as he lay prone on the floor in the hall. Mr.
Norton lifted his head, turned to the right and said to me: “It’s only a mouse,
why chase him. He’s not bothering me.” He then resumed his nap. A few weeks
later, a mouse ran into his office and then out. Mr. Norton was nearly as fast
as a red BMW, galloping down the hall and around the corner after the mouse,
finally pinning it against a printer as Melissa climbed on a chair with wheels
no less and called for health and safety to rid her office from the mouse. Mr.
Norton got bored since the mouse wasn’t Mickey and didn’t do any tricks and
left.
His most outstanding quality is he unconditionally loves
everyone. Well, sort of. He loves them unconditionally if he can smell the
scent of their pets on their shoes and if they give him a treat. He especially
loves Jane and Linda and anyone who will give him a walk.
And, if one really pays attention, Mr. Norton is an example
of one who gives unconditional love to anyone. We all can learn from this
highly evolved animal who lives to serve (mostly himself and his belly) and an
ole guy who uses a wheelchair and just loves riding his handcycle on the track
with Mr.Norton by his side, whispering. “Be inspired, ole man, not everyone has
equal rights in America, yet and it’s your job and those you work with to lead
us all to a more humane Mr. Norton-like world.
