Homecoming Reunion

Suburban Chicago, August 2013. This image captures those three Golden Retrievers anticipating an arrival.

Three (Different) Dogs

Suburban Chicago, August 2013. My friend Kris has two Golden Retrievers, Maggie and Lucy. Kris recently looked after another dog, and she sent along this image of the trio.

Meet the Neighbor

Verona, Wisconsin, September 2009. Rex and Baci consider a new puppy.

Maggie-and-Lucy Reunion

Aww, thanks, gals:

Suburban Chicago, February 2012. My friend Kris prompts her dogs, Maggie and Lucy, to send a lovely message.

Fog

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2010. Our neighbors' dog, "Happy," checks out the fog.

Gary

My friend Phyllis called me today. Her husband, Gary, died on January 1.

Phyllis met Gary when she and I were History grad students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Gary, a blind English professor, was crossing a busy street. His seeing-eye dog, the Golden Retriever "Spar," was about to lead Gary into traffic. Phyllis, a bystander, jumped into the lane and pulled Gary (and Spar) to safety. And so began the romance.

I spent many evenings with Phyllis and Gary. Phyllis used to say that when I was in Champaign, away from my own home, I could get my "dog fix" by visiting them and Spar.

I went to Phyllis and Gary's wedding, and they came to ours.

 
Suburban Chicago, June 1989. Phyllis—in the rose bridesmaid's dress—and Gary dance at our wedding.

UPDATE: Here's a tribute published in the Champaign-Urbana newspaper, The News-Gazette.

How Gigi came to live with us.

Our family acquired its first dog, the Poodle "Gigi," in September 1969. Gigi was three or four years old when she came to live with us. A coworker of my Mom's had owned Gigi previously. The coworker decided Gigi was alone too much during the work week. She thought Gigi would do better in a household where someone—namely, my paternal Grandmother Tatjana—was home all day.

Four things had happened during the summer of 1969 that helped convince my Parents that we should adopt Gigi.

First, one of our neighbors had gotten an adorable Spaniel mix puppy, and I fell in love with it:

*     *     *     *     *

Second, another set of neighbors had left their cat temporarily in my care while they coordinated a house move. I was inconsolable when the neighbors returned to retrieve the cat.

(I don't have a photo of that cat, but its name was "Cleo.")

*     *     *     *     *

Third, we had spent the month of July at the Lake of Bays in Ontario, Canada. The owners of the cottage we rented had a marvelous Golden Retriever to whom I became somewhat attached:

*     *     *     *     *

Fourth, I was big enough to deserve a Schwinn bicycle. If I were ready for a real, three-speed bike, then I probably was ready for a dog:

*     *     *     *     *

And so, Gigi came to live with us. I was delighted:

Suburban Chicago, September 1969. Gigi promptly bonded exclusively with my Dad, and she lived to be almost nineteen years old.