So, Lisa, Evan and I were grocery shopping at WalMart the other evening. All of my best stories take place at WalMart, you know. Lisa and Evan were in the frozen foods when she asked me to go over to the produce aisle to get bananas, strawberries, and a zucchini. As I turned the corner, I saw an older gentleman who had a large Collie dog on a leash. I thought at first it must be a service dog of some sort but then I saw the man take the dog over to the honeydew melon display and proceed to look at the honeydews, picking them up, tapping on them (like we always do with melons for some strange reason ... if anyone can tell me what I am supposed to listen for, I'd appreciate it ... it would be scary if one knocked back some day) and showing them to the dog. The dog would sniff at them and then usually turn away.

It wasn't long before a WalMart produce department worker (someone I went to high school with in fact) came over and approached the gentleman. Being the nosy but subtle type I am, I proceeded over to look at the vine grown tomatoes which were across the aisle from the honeydew melons. The tomatoes looked tasty and I'd be able to hear their conversation from there. The worker said "Sir, is that a service dog?"

The man looked at her and replied, "What do you mean?"

"Is that a seeing eye dog?"

"No, it isn't. She's just my dog. Her name is Bessie."

"Well, I am afraid I will have to ask you to take Bessie back out to your car. There are no pets allowed in the store except service dogs," my classmate said.

The man acted a bit miffed but kept picking up honeydews and showing them to the dog, more hurriedly now. "Just a second," he said.

"Sir, you really can't have your dog in here around the produce. It's not sanitary."

"But she helps me pick out my melons. Her nose can tell when they're just ripe enough but not too ripe. I will take her back out to the car in a second."

About this time, Lisa and Evan came and found me. Of course, this whole situation with the man and the dog was pretty funny for me.

So, the only thing that could come out of my mouth when I saw Lisa was:

"Look, it's a Melon Collie, baby!"