In early December my wife, Barbara, and I flew to New York to be with our daughter and her husband as their 2-year-old son, Matthew, was having surgery at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Matthew has Russell-Silver Syndrome, a form of dwarfism, and was there to have a feeding tube implant.

All the time he was in the hospital, his mom slept in a chair next to his bed and held him whenever Matthew got a bit anxious as a result of the picks and pokes. Matthew's dad was there all night before the surgery and after but spent the rest of the nights at a hotel. But when there was pain, the call was always the same: "Mommy oweee." And mommy was there to provide love, comfort and reassurance that things would be just fine. A mother's love is very special, and that is true everywhere on earth. Matthew is now home in Wisconsin and doing quite well.

But there was a lighter side to our visit, and it had to do with an elevator ride in the apartment hotel where we were staying.

We buzzed the elevator and when the door opened on our floor, we noticed two young women already inside, one with her rather frisky dog on a leash. Just as we started to enter the elevator, the dog owner commanded: "Sit." So I sat. How was I to know she was talking to the dog? With that the other young woman started to laugh and said: "At least someone listens."

It took me several seconds to get the bones in gear to stand up again. Fortunately, Barbara held the elevator door open while I completed the maneuver.

Once inside, I demonstrated my paws-up, begging trick, which met with immediate applause. Even the dog liked that one. After we got out of the elevator, the young women asked if I had also been trained to fetch the paper and heel. We all had a good laugh. New Yorkers have a great sense of humor.

Now I don't know if being goofy is hereditary or an acquired skill, but it sure helps me get through the day.

when Frank isn't practicing his elevator tricks, he can be reached at: fburge@cmp.com.