Golden Memories

4 days until we get our puppy!!!!!

This may be the last entry I write until we get the puppy. I guess it depends on how busy we are with puppy proofing. 🙂

I had a special bond with a special golden retreiver as a child. Her show name was High Point Shooting Star, her name at our house was Snookie. 🙂

My mom had gotten divorced from my father and dated a total asshole for awhile. Eventually she got rid of the asshole after he pulled a gun on her (long story). Then eventually she brought home a guy that she’d met at work. I was young at the time, 6 maybe? This guy had a dog and he brought it with him when he came over to our house. I was absolutely terrified of dogs because it wasn’t too long after the whole dog bite incident. We’d also had a huge white dog in our backyard that used to knock me down and stand on me. I hadn’t had good experiences with dogs and much preferred the company of cats. Anyway, eventually my mom married this guy (my current step-dad) and we all moved in together in a new house. This dog he had was very well behaved and she loved kids! We quickly became inseperable buddies. She was a trained show dog so she was very easy for a kid to handle. She didn’t pull on the leash and she did what I asked her to do. She gave me a chance to learn some valuable dog training skills but most importantly she was my friend during a really rough period of my life.

When I came home from school every day I came home to an empty house, except for the dog of course. When I came through the door Snookie was always terribly happy to see me. She welcomed me home and helped me forget about my troubles. We’d play fetch and then come in and watch tv together. I could lay on the floor and rest my head on her provided I stayed still. I could dress her up in clothes and take pictures of her. She was a friend and a protector. I could go outside and take a walk and know that I was safe, no one would fuck with me when I had the dog.

I remember I could wrap my arms around her and cry when I was sad. She slept by my feet when I was sick.

She loved bubbles. I could sit outside and blow bubbles and she’d chase all around poppping them as fast as she could. She also loved balloons. I’d have mom blow one up and I’d toss it in the air and Snookie would chase it around hitting it with her nose to keep it in the air. Eventually it’d pop and she’d bark at it.

Those were the days.

Eventually Snookie had to be put down because of hip dysplasia. I lost my best friend that day and my life became very empty.

My parents did end up getting a new golden (Tisha) after a few months. I love her now but at the time it was dissapointing because she just wasn’t the same. Tisha is amusing and I think I owe her a thanks for convincing my hubby that golden’s kick ass. My hubby didn’t want a golden originally because ‘everyone has one’. Which is true, it seems like nowadays everyone has a golden. That doesn’t matter to me though. I don’t want a golden because they’re popular or beautiful. Although they are beautiful, it’s the faithfulness, the love and the wonderful personality that makes me want a golden. The loving companionship they provide. The fact that during a time when I felt like no one cared I had the best friend any kid could have had, a golden retreiver.

Last time we visited my mom in Oklahoma she told me Tisha had been waiting at the door for us to come back after we left. She was hopeful every time she heard a car. It broke my heart to hear that and that was the moment I realized I have to have a golden retreiver. They’ve been a part of my life for so long, that part of my life is missing. There’s an emptiness inside me that I think is going to be filled by this puppy we’re getting. It just feels right to me to have a dog, to go hiking with a dog, and swimming. To have a reason to just go outside and do nothing but play fetch and tug of war for hours.

Tuesday March 4th at 10am I will be the happiest person in the world. I will have my very own golden retreiver. A new friend to share life with. I vow to do everything in my power to give little Sara the best life she could possibly live.