I guess my husband and I had taken to Sam and Carly even more than ever. They kept us busy twice a day out on the trails in West Virginia. We were lucky to have access to thousands of acres to walk and hike in. When we closed our business to make a transfer to Tennessee, Sam and I were becoming even bigger buddies. Now with our three children going off to college and busy in school the week days were ours. We spent every waking hour together. He was my constant companion, my “shadow”. He sat beside me (usually at my feet) as I painted, made jewelry, worked on my daily chores or gardened outside. Finally grandchildren came along and Sam and Carly seemed to initially welcome and at least tolerate their company. And they were patient with their growing and learning. I believe the dogs taught them a few lessons. Our grand babies learned to listen for their barks at the door to come in and watch for their desire for another treat from the pantry, for which they enjoyed accommodating them with great pride.
It was hard for all of us to accept but Sam started to show some age. It was hard to believe that the dog that had climbed the hills of West Virginia and Tennessee like a mountain goat had finally begun to slow down. As Sam continued to weaken my husband had to carry him up and down the stairs. He slept by our bed every night and nearly communicated with me as though he were talking right to me in his expressions and body language. He was never comfortable with being carried and he weighed nearly 80 pounds during his peak but had trimmed down some. Nevertheless, I was concerned about my husband carrying Sam up and down the stairs for fear of them falling. My husband had, had a terrible motorcycle accident and a compound fracture to his right femur, along with several other injures a few years ago, so the last thing that we needed was a fall! Sam had been a super companion to my husband during his recover and so had our cats! Separating Sam from us at night was very difficult, especially on Sam! But we had to put up a child gate so he would not attempt to climb the stairs and I had to put a stop to this dangerous task. It broke my heart as he looked so pitifully at me each night. We made him a super comfortable palette in our family room and many nights I would sleep downstairs on the couch with him to comfort him. He also had an awesome bed in our garage that in the end proved to be his most coveted resting place.
Sam learned many words and he and Carly had a few that we had to be careful not to utter at the wrong time or crazy excitement might erupt! These two Golden Retrievers kept and Carly still keeps us outdoors twice a day rain or shine and on our hikes or walks. They have been great motivator of exercise!
Sam’s health finally began to deteriorate at about fourteen and a half. We have a super vet that makes house calls and when Sam and Carly began to have a few problems she offered suggestions and awesome care. They both had surgery to remove some growths and Sam’s was cancer. He healed well but continued to slow down. By late summer 2011 he was weaker and our hikes had come to a halt. Very quickly our walks became shorter and at last we resorted to strolls and wagon rides. He loved being outside and riding in the truck was one of his very favorite things to do! We had not done that in a long time and in late September 2011 Sam went on his last truck ride. He was so happy and you could tell it! He never lost the puppy in his spirit.
We have had a little intruder problem for about a year. We have two cats that our son Daniel found at the lake behind our house and another large cat has been coming in our pet door to find food and shelter. It gets our cats all worked up causing some “CrAzY hissy fits” and Sam being the “Great Interceptor and Ruckus Controller ” that he was, possibly tried to intercede and coax our friend on his way as Carly, our female, attempted to abruptly escort him back out the door I assume. I heard some noise but this had become a nightly routine and I was exhausted that night and did not get up. That was very unusual for me. Apparently Sam being too weak plummeted straight down our deck stairs in the dark, early morning hours during this altercation. He had not attempted to travel down them for many months. It broke our hearts as we noticed him missing from our family room when we woke up the next morning. Rushing and in a panic we found him at the bottom of the deck stairs unable to move. We immediately carried him to his bed in our garage. As I scurried to straighten his covers my husband tried to sit him down for a moment, unable to stand he just held him sort of close to the ground and Sam looked at me as if to say he was sorry with his eyes. Oh I cried, Sam no baby we are so sorry. I had scolded him just weeks before as he for the umpteenth time lately had gotten into the lake behind our home unable to get back out. I fussed at him a little and shot him one of those looks, like Sam what in the world were you thinking looks! He had gotten in a boggy nasty part of the lake. I was on the phone with my sister and had momentarily lost him long enough for him to slip in for a dip. At first I chuckled then I realized oh my goodness, he cannot get out. We were covered in muck and tears and we smelt atrocious. I lost one of my shoes somewhere down in the goo. I had to physically drag him across a bridge and up a hill, call my husband at work and ask him to bring the truck to pick us up. It was the second of such call in a short time span. I was a mess both physically and mentally and so was Sam. My husband proceeded to remove some of his dress clothes in order to get us in the truck bed. This look that Sam gave me now was the very same look after such an ordeal. It was as though he were saying he was sorry with his eyes. And I felt horrible that I had heard something during the night of his fall but didn’t get up as things seemed to get quiet again. We quickly accessed Sam’s injury as very serious, and more than likely life threatening, I phoned the vet. She arrived in what seemed like forever as we waited with great sadness knowing that Sam would probably never recover. Our fears were confirmed on October 31, 2011. Sam died in my arms and I had to drive his still warm body about an hour away to meet the ever so kind folks that would ultimately cremate Sam for us. I stopped as I pulled out of our driveway to let Carly, our female Golden, who had gone to the end of our driveway to lie in the garden, say good bye to her best buddy and brother by adoption, Sam. She nudged him with her nose, seemingly unaware that he was gone, she wanted to ride too. I told her that she must stay and she began to back up very confused, one had never gone anywhere without the other accept when she had been bitten on the nose by a copperhead snake. I gave her a pat on the head for assurance as I hated to leave her behind. After I had gone she must have walk a short distance down the street to our neighbor’s home to lie down in their garage. After all most of our neighbors seem to love and cherish our animals too. These particular neighbors’s informed us of this after they heard about Sam’s passing. They said that she had never in the ten years that we have live here come to do that. In fact, they often try to get her to walk with them and she will visit briefly in front of our home but never venture off with anyone but us.
About two days after Sam’s passing Carly perked up with some excitement she stood at the tailgate of my husband’s truck, wagging her tail and looking as if to say, okay let’s go get Sam! This was the truck that she and Sam had ridden in, in September and before that it had surely been close to a year since we were able to take them for a ride. I did take her on a ride that day and the day after she did the same thing. After no return of Sam possible she knew something was up. On the fourth day she didn’t ask for a truck ride. Carly began to seem quieter and obviously sad in the days to follow. She barely got up to take her walks and often refused to go. I felt like I had lost a child and I wondered what she thought. I was so terribly sad. But I/we are so thankful to have been so blessed to enjoy such a wonderful pet for so many years. And we still have sweet Carly! And our two cats Reesie and Sug’-a-Bee!
About two weeks ago our son Daniel was going through a few rough days and I had, had him in my prayers very intensely. During a long hike that I had not taken since last year because it had become too long and dangerous for Sam, I was praying and hiking with a vigorous pace and God stopped me in my tracks as I reached the bluff. He reminded me about when Daniel was young. And how I had missed an opportunity to teach Daniel about how God answers prayers. It was as clear as though I could hear Daniel’s little voice, Mommy; doesn’t GOD answer your prayers?” (Remember as I mentioned earlier?)I quipped, “HE sure does…but on HIS own good time and I’m telling you that it just isn’t happening this Christmas so you had better put something else on that list!” as I nodded my head with such confidence! Who was I to say when God would answer Daniel’s prayer? After all I had said that he would answer the prayer on His (God’s) own good time! It was a teaching moment and I failed, it had been about my time, on my schedule! Surely little Daniel must have been confused. So, now was a teaching moment and a learning moment for me, (Daniel now 22 years old) so later that evening, I began a series of text messages. They began like this…Me-“I’ve got a question for you…It’s not a hard one I don’t think…but I was curious about something. Daniel- “OK” Me-“When you were little and you told me that you had prayed for a Golden Retriever puppy for Christmas…did you really or did you just tell me that?” Daniel-“I really did. I always wanted one” Me- “And do you think that God answered your prayer or do you think that Sam just showed up?” “I was thinking about that on my morning hike.” ;0) “I really feel his (Sam’s) spirit around still when I walk. I know that sounds crazy but dad said the same thing on our walk this evening.” Daniel- “I can’t say for sure but it would be quite a coincidence if he wasn’t a godsend! Plus he was such a special dog!” Me- “Yea that’s what I feel.” “And then you really wanted a puppy so we got Carly! Do you think that she was an answer too? Haha” (you have to know the two dogs to understand this part) Daniel- “I’m not sure about her haha. She is sweet though.” “Ok love you” Me- “Yes she is…and she has been very SPECIAL lately too!” “One more question…If you remember back then when you prayed for Sam…did you really believe that God would answer your prayer or did you just hope?” “I was just thinking about how little faith I had when I told you not now, not for Christmas but maybe we can revisit the idea of a dog in the spring or summer so that you could help more with a puppy. And that if you didn’t put something else on your list that you would simply just get what I decided to get you” “Your response back to me is as clear to me today as if I could hear your sweet little voice say…’well I prayed for a Golden Retriever puppy! Mommy; doesn’t GOD answer your prayers?’ And you looked at me.” Daniel- “Well I’m not really sure. I just know that I prayed for one but never thought that one would just show up like Sam did. I thought the only way I’d get one is if you got it for me.” Me-“I remember firmly looking at you and saying, YES son, but it happens on His own good time and I’m telling you that you better put something else on your list….!” Daniel- “Haha, Yes I do remember that” Me- “It just got me thinking this morning…” Ok love you. No more questions! Have fun!” Daniel- “Haha ok love you. Thank you!”
God gives us teaching moments. And God answers prayer. His answers are yes, not right now and no I have something better in store for you later.
Sam was an inspiration for me in several different mediums and media of art. I made paintings, digital art, photographs, fabric print and even painted him on a wooden chest for our grand daughter's fifth birthday. He truly was an angel sent from heaven.
Thank you for reading,
Gayle Forster
The fountain of beauty is in our heart, and many of those beautiful, fascinating thoughts and images are illustrated in it’s chamber s and must be purged...
G.Forster
