A set of memories sent from Java’s beginning of life owner, Dona to Java’s end of life owner, Bob.
Bob,
I would say that Java as a young dog did not have the density of hair that Sake has. Her hair was thick but more silky long. When Java walked on leash in front of me, she had a swishy skirt of hair and her step was very ladylike. She would place one foot in front of the other when she walked. In the doggie parks, it was Java who trotted up to the other people and dogs to make friends and check out the latest doggie news.
As I said on Saturday, Java was much more apt to get into mischief – dragging the plunger around that was three times her size. She loved to burrow around in the snow, diving face first into the drifts. I remember saying that she was a retriever that didn’t retrieve, because although she would run to the ball, she wasn’t keen on always bringing it back, preferring to knaw on the ball at a little distance. She loved to hike with me above Boulder on the trails, never minding that she wore her own backpack and carried her own water bottles.
Being on the lookout for easy snacks, when Java and I stopped to say hello to moms pushing their child carriages, Java quickly learned how to snatch the cheerios or goldfish from the child’s tray. She would “mind” but sometimes she chose not to hear me, just like any child, selective listening!
Always, I was delighted by how she would flop onto her back, wiggling to and fro, while wiping at her face with her two paws… clearly she was a happy happy girl!
We played hide and seek a lot in the house just for fun, Java barking delightedly when she discovered me! Java was very aware of the people around her and was attuned to small nuances in the cadence and pitch of my voice.
Although Java had a doggie bed, who could refuse Java jumping up on the bed and curling up against your body as you took a nap…those snuffling noises and jerky doggie dreams were just too precious!
True to the retriever breed, she loved to go swimming. There was a pond within an open space area just north of Boulder that we visited at least once a week – she would run and splash along the shore looking for a stick so that I could throw it into the water for her to retrieve. A water retrieval was a sure thing with Java – I would quit throwing long before she was finished.
As you know, Java loved being outdoors – soaking in the warmth of the sun, putting her nose up in the air and catching the trail of some vapor scent, exploring any new crook and cranny
Later, when Sake arrived, Java always was emphatic that she got to sit in the passenger seat of the car, putting her elbow on the window arm rest and watching the world go by. She loved to “go for a ride”! Such delights of a dog!
By the way, thank you for setting everything up with Home to Heaven – Dr. Cooney was amazing.
I couldn’t even imagine a finer send-off for Java and you were so generous to share this passage with me.
Dona