The Blondie Page

I first met Blondie (aka "the Queen") in the summer of 1988. I had just gotten out of the army and wanted a dog that I could travel with across the country. Blondie was living with a woman who needed to find her a new home because she was moving into an apartment that did not accept dogs. (Blondie still does not consider herself a dog but that is another story. :-) Blondie was already five years old and when she came to this woman from an animal shelter. (How Blondie could have ever been allowed to be put in a shelter is beyond me. Of course Blondie is a private person and does not ever speak of the days of her youth so we will never know.) After a rigorous interview process I was finally allowed to meet Blondie and lucky for me she agreed that I would be an acceptable S.O.B. (Slave Of Blondie.) I tried to rename her Charlie after the dog in the John Steinbeck book Travels with Charlie but the Queen would have none of that! Little did I know but that was the first indication of the test of wills that Blondie and I would have over the years, a test that I would eventually fail and concede to being her servant.

Blondie and I soon traveled across the country - from North Carolina to Michigan to Colorado and various places in between. But before we knew it we were back in NC and although Blondie and I continued to travel and camp we settled into a routine of domestic life. While I attended school at UNC Greensboro Blondie went to live at my Mothers home and had an idealistic life for a Golden Retriever. Blondie was able to roam free in a neighborhood, swim in a lake whenever she desired and had a great friendship with the only dog (Boomer) she ever considered worthy of her affection.

In January 1996 Blondie came to live with Susan Grey and me fulltime. Over the past 4.5 years Blondie has become an intricate part of our lives and the circle is now complete; Blondie is now the master of the house and we are but humble servants to the Queen. Of course when a Golden Retriever can live over 17 years she is entitled to all the benefits that life can provide. In the last few moths of her life every time Blondie was outside she followed by a feral cat. We came to know this cat as Blondie's guardian angel and was appropriately named Angel. After we got a closer look we renamed the cat to Angelo. He was a precious soul to Blondie and to us and he will also be greatly missed.

Blondie's life on Earth ended on the morning of July 4, 2000.

She lived a long wonderful life of over 17 years and although the last few months were more difficult for her she was given the best care Susan and I could provide. Her last meal was even a bacon cheese burger that Susan bought for her. This strong dog kept fighting until her last breath, and while we never wanted her to leave us we are very happy that Blondie no longer feels any pain or distress.

Blondie will be greatly missed and while we are coping with our grief at this loss we are comforted by the many many years of precious memories she gave us.

After Blondie was laid to rest, many prayers were said and the following words were spoken:

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They do not know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace." --Milan Kundera

The following photographs are thumbnail images. Click on the image to see the enlarged version of the photograph.

Other poses and action shots are available upon request, please send Honey Dijon potato chips to ensure a prompt reply.

Be sure to take a tour of the photo essay describing the "Making of a BOGOG"!

Blondie's Favorite Comics

Blondie in all her Glory
Blondie awaits her mobile dog house, a.k.a. "the truck".	Just hanging out in the yard - Asheville, NC
The Intellectual Blondie relaxes in her Study.	A tired doggie
Resting after a good swim in the Blue River, Lake Dillon Colorado.	"Strutting Her Stuff"