Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Of course
he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're
barbarians! How clear we make it. Oh, my piglets, we are the origins of war:
not history's forces, nor the times, nor justice, nor the lack of it, nor
causes, nor religions, nor ideas, nor kinds of government, nor any other thing.
We are the killers. We breed wars. We carry it like syphilis inside. Dead
bodies rot in field and stream because the living ones are rotten. For the love
of God, can't we love one another just a little - that's how peace begins. We
have so much to love each other for. We have such possibilities, my children.
We could change the world.
The Lion in
Winter: Eleanor of Aquitaine to her husband
Henry II of England, a meeting
on Christmas Eve
to discuss the future of the throne.
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire.
Come into the castle. The year is 1183 and Henry II (Peter O'Toole) is sitting by his fireplace, contemplating the future of his kingdom. Standing stoic by Henry's chair is his estranged wife Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn). Eleanor, imprisoned, is free to celebrate Christmas in the medieval chateau. They are in their twilight years now, braving winter after winter, remembering their three sons, discussing Henry's mistress, and who to throw in prison - or not. They are historical figures in a fictional movie, winning Academy Awards and Golden Globes. The real Henry II and Eleanor would be entertained.
The Lion in Winter was one of Dr. Smith's favorite movies. Jerry Hartley, a long time client and friend, often tells of Dr. Smith's infatuation with the intense drama, dynamic actors, and emotional plot of the movie. Jerry says, "Pete would come to my house and go right to the TV, put the movie into the VCR, and become mesmerized. This was back in the late 70's. It was a distraction from farm calls and his practice."
I don't know which character Dr. Smith was drawn to more - Eleanor or Henry. Eleanor, with her distinguished attitude, trying to save the lives of her sons; Henry, arrogant and proud, giving no thought to loyalty or integrity. There is empathy for Eleanor who is sent back to her prison at the end of the movie, while Henry is somehow intriguing and likeable as he guides Eleanor back to her cell. Possibly, Dr. Smith enjoyed being swept away into a time where he may once have lived (if you believe in that sort of thing), where men rode horses all day and sat by the fireside all night.
Dr. Smith enjoyed sitting by his own fireside. His captain's chair by the fire has a sheepskin overlay; a sheepskin from his own sheep (another story). This is where he ate lunch, played chess, read his favorite books, prayed, and planned his days. Overseeing his own kingdom, Milliron, Dr. Smith lived life on his own terms; a purposed-filled life in the Ohio valley that he loved, occasionally taking the time to watch The Lion in Winter.
The Lion in Winter was one of Dr. Smith's favorite movies. Jerry Hartley, a long time client and friend, often tells of Dr. Smith's infatuation with the intense drama, dynamic actors, and emotional plot of the movie. Jerry says, "Pete would come to my house and go right to the TV, put the movie into the VCR, and become mesmerized. This was back in the late 70's. It was a distraction from farm calls and his practice."
I don't know which character Dr. Smith was drawn to more - Eleanor or Henry. Eleanor, with her distinguished attitude, trying to save the lives of her sons; Henry, arrogant and proud, giving no thought to loyalty or integrity. There is empathy for Eleanor who is sent back to her prison at the end of the movie, while Henry is somehow intriguing and likeable as he guides Eleanor back to her cell. Possibly, Dr. Smith enjoyed being swept away into a time where he may once have lived (if you believe in that sort of thing), where men rode horses all day and sat by the fireside all night.
Dr. Smith enjoyed sitting by his own fireside. His captain's chair by the fire has a sheepskin overlay; a sheepskin from his own sheep (another story). This is where he ate lunch, played chess, read his favorite books, prayed, and planned his days. Overseeing his own kingdom, Milliron, Dr. Smith lived life on his own terms; a purposed-filled life in the Ohio valley that he loved, occasionally taking the time to watch The Lion in Winter.
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Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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