Dixie Dew becomes a celebrity

Somewhere along the line, in addition to all my other responsibilities, I have gained a new one — that of being Dixie Dew’s agent.

That’s because Dixie Dew has become a celebrity, albeit an unintentional one, but a celebrity no less.

She is now being offered modeling jobs, photo shoots and personal appearances. In fact, she just did her first magazine shoot the other day.

None of this, of course, comes with any money but I’m hoping that will change. An endorsement for dog food or flea and tick control would be nice. Awfully nice, in fact.

I have always believed, since she was a mere pup, that she was destined to be a Hollywood starlet. She just has that star quality about her.

In the Southern tradition of superstition where we believe it is possible to speak things into existence, I have always said to her, “You should be in the movies. Lassie and Benji have nothing on you.”

I have also noted to her on many occasions as she chomped down way too enthusiastically on her food, “You need to get a movie job so you can buy your dog food. You’re eating me into the poorhouse. Not to mention the cost of your wardrobe.”

This admonishment barely fazes her. She’ll look up from her bowl, tilt her head quizzically for a moment and then, unconcerned, resume her enthusiastic eating.

Readers ask about Dew and are excited to meet her. Her fame continues to grow. One day, I was loading groceries in my car when a lady in the parking lot recognized me. Then, she saw Dew in the car.

“Look, Mama!” she squealed excitedly to an elderly woman. “There’s Dixie Dew!”

It was Travis, my dear friend and photographer, who first called and asked to use Dixie Dew as a model. He’s doing a series of pet portraits and needed a dachshund. He was especially interested in a dachshund who is a celebrity and who has a great wardrobe.

“Pick out a great outfit,” he instructed.

“Are you sure you want Dixie Dew?” I asked cautiously. Travis is such a good friend that I thought he was only asking to be sweet. “Isn’t she a bit chubby to be a model?”

I didn’t want Dew to get her feelings hurt when she got out there in the real world of models and the mean ones started to chide her about her weight.

“She’s perfect,” Travis promised.

Still, I worried. I especially worried when I saw photos of her from my nephew’s birthday party and viewed the double roll of flesh that hung around the collar of her dress. It was pretty porky looking.

Then I got to thinking.

Dew could be a positive role model for all of us who are less than perfect. Full-figured gals who are bold, confident and well-dressed. I saw a chance for Dew to make a difference. So, now I encourage this new modeling career.

Of course, Dixie Dew doesn’t know that she’s fat. Or care. Therefore, she has lots of self-confidence and that has gone a long way in enabling her modeling career. Lest you should wonder, though, all this fame and success has not gone to her head.

Dixie Dew is still the same sweet girl she’s always been.