Yellow Dog

Monday Feb 18, 2008

My golden retriever, Riley, retired from the Northeast to Florida three years ago. No, he didn't pack up and decide it was too cold up here. When my parents retired, they took him with them. Sometimes, when I called my parents, I'd ask how Riley was doing before I asked how they were. Oops. I missed my dog terribly but Riley really loved Florida. He didn't care that there were more ticks living in my parents lawn than in the entire state of Massachusetts. All that he cared about was how the thick grass would scratch his back every morning. He enjoyed the cool tile floors. He would become excited, yet ticked off, when golfers were on the course just beyond his back yard.

Riley turned ten a month ago. I probably shouldn't admit that I called him to wish him a happy 70th birthday. Even at age 10 (or 70, depending on how you look at dog years), Riley still had his puppy like moments. He'd steal a pillow off the couch or bring you a shoe if you weren't paying enough attention to him. When I saw him this past Fall, he tripped over his own feet in sheer delight when I picked up his leash. (That same FL trip was also when my Dad, who was channeling Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer, told me I was ruining years of doggie training because I was somehow walking the dog incorrectly. Ha.)

Rumor has it that Riley was named by one of my sisters. I thought the name was ok. I actually didn't care. Once I got over the shock of my younger sister unexpectedly bringing home this new puppy (that her short-lived boyfriend had bought her), I was so excited to have a puppy that I didn't care what his name was. I always called him my Yellow Dog. He was a dog and he was yellow. Yellow is the color of sunshine, which is warm and bright and brings happiness. Yellow Dog suited Riley perfectly as a nickname.

A week ago, Riley was diagnosed with cancer. Today, he went to the big doggie park in the sky. I'm engulfed with sadness and my heart aches. I don't know what it is that a dog can do to you. Their unconditional love. Their desire to please their owner. Riley did that to me. He brought light, happiness, and yellow to my world.

Like this post? | | | |

Posted at 09:15PM Feb 18, 2008 by ditucci in East Coast
Tags: