A Gental Soul

May 27, 2019

This past week marks five years since my gentle soul Golden Kali joined our family. May 24 is Kali’s “Gotcha Day”. Long time followers of the Golden Kali Blog may remember that Kali was originally rescued in Taiwan. After receiving a few months of loving care and rehabilitation from her Taiwanese foster care givers she flew to America with 23 other Golden Retriever rescues, landed at SFO, and pranced straight into our hearts. For newer followers this very first post from five years ago will provide you with some historical context: Kali’s New Life In America Begins.

Kali very quickly turned our family into a pack inspiring us and shaping our lives in ways I never imagined. Her sweet and gentle disposition was evident from the very start. That first night home, unsure of what to expect I tethered her to the foot of my bed post when we went to bed. I remember being gently nuzzled by a wet nose in the wee hours of the morning by this loving girl. I took her outside to pee and we returned to the bedroom and she willingly settled down by the side of my bed and immediately settled down for the rest of the night. By the next evening she had earned full run of the house and has never ever displayed anything other than respect and appreciation for her surroundings and our belongings.

I’ll always remember the first visit – a meet and greet – to the vet when the vet gave Kali a few treats. “Look”, she said. “She takes the treats with her lips. She’s so gentle”. I smiled proudly (as if I had anything to do with her gentle nature) and felt immediately blessed to be in the presence of a soul so sweet as Kali.

Two years later we shook up Kali’s world by bringing home Kloe, a nine-week old Golden Retriever. After about 10 or15 minutes of a lot of barking (“get that little dog out of here”), followed by about 30 minutes of indifference (“fine she can stay but I’m not having anything to do with her”), Kloe won Kali’s heart and they’ve been nuzzling, playing, and sleeping together ever since. During the first several months Kali was a wonderful surrogate mom to Kloe giving her lessons only another dog can. As Kloe grew older the relationship transitioned to sisters and to this day Kloe idolizes her big sissy Kali.

Within three weeks of bringing Kloe home we moved from the SF Bay Area to the Sierra Nevada Foothills. We named our home The Golden K in honor of our two “K” girls. Kali loved her new environment with so much more area to explore and smell. Kloe followed in Kali’s every footstep and they became great companions with a common disdain for squirrels, an eventual acceptance of the black tail deers, and a love for the smell and whooshing of the tall pines.

Late last year ~~at the insistence of Kali~~ I finally convinced Holly that we needed another pup. Another pup to be an active companion for Kloe now that Kali was slowing down. And as awkward as may sound, I want to make sure that Kloe had a companion when it’s time for Kali to cross over the rainbow bridge. I don’t like to think about that day – it scares me to think about being without Kali. But I also don’t want to get another pup in the middle of my grief. I love Kloe too much to let there be a time when she doesn’t have a canine companion.

So….enter Koda!. Our third Golden K girl joined us last fall at four months old. This tenacious little fire ball joined the pack guns-a-blazing full of attitude, mischief, and, occasional mayhem. In spite of some of her more, er, well, hmm…. let’s say challenging traits, she is a sweet and loving pup who with continued patience from the rest of the pack will turn into a lovely young lady in the months and years to come.

Through all the figurative -and actual- “planes trains and automobiles” that Kali experienced during the past five years she is always the same gentle soul we met on May 24, 2015. The same gentle should who flew 6,400 miles from Taiwan to San Francisco and later drove 100 miles from suburbia to our new mountain home. The same gentle soul who has shaped much of my life, Holly’s life, and the lives of her little sissies.

The same gentle soul who’s life in America is chronicled here in The Golden Kali Blog.

Kali the morning after she arrived from Taiwan

Kali today. Our gentlest of souls

Snow Day At The Golden K

February 25, 2018

Finally, a snow day with the girls.

The Master Teacher

January 19, 2018

As I helped my Golden Kali with her aging hips onto the couch I cuddled her. We were alone in the family room while Holly cleaned up after dinner. Puppy Kloe was still sleeping under the dinner table.

As Kali settled onto the couch I whispered out loud into her ear. “I love you Kali, more than you can ever comprehend”.

Kali looked at me with sleepy eyes and it hit me. I paused for a moment and then I said, again out loud, “Wait – maybe you love me more than I can ever comprehend”.

And so it was. Another moment, another day, and another lesson I’ve learned from my Golden Kali.

My Golden Kali The Master Teacher.

Young Pups

July 10, 2017

Many canine breeds are good with children and Golden Retreivers are one of the best. The American Kennel Club places Goldens fourth after the Bulldog (1), Beagle (2), and the Newfoundland (3). Labs at number 5 were right after Golden Retrievers.

When Kloe first joined our pack it took her a few days but she eventually engaged Kali in play. All of 15 pounds when she came home Kloe would run full speed at Kali nipping at her ears and bouncing off Kali’s torso, hips and head. It was warming to see Kali, at 60 pounds, play so gently with Kloe instinctively knowing that Kloe was obviously smaller but also a “baby”. During tug-o-war Kali could have shaken the rope toy hard enough to launch Kloe into the air but she didn’t. She would hold on lightly and allow Kloe to gain some ground. Kloe would eventually tire, lie down on her belly, and Kali would drag her along the carpet or kitchen tile for a ride.

A little over a year later its fun to watch Kloe, now at 80 pounds, approach her big sister much in the same way she did when she was just a bitty pup.

Kloe still blind sides Kali at full speed, often with a toy in her mouth, daring Kali to fight back as if Kali has a choice. The difference now is that Kloe has a 20 pound advantage over Kali who has to go full strength as a matter of self preservation. And some games never change. Often after several minutes of tug-o-war Kloe will lie flat on her stomach, front and back legs fully extended, and Kali drags her along the carpet and Kitchen tile.

Until recently Kloe had not been around any young pups and I wondered how she would act if she was. At only fifteen months does she possess the same instincts that seven year old Kali demonstrated with her baby sister a year ago? Kloe has always had just one speed during play: 11 of on a scale of 10. Through training and to some degree maturity (did I just use the word maturity in a sentence with Kloe?!?) Kloe is calmer around people when she first meets them. It’s hard for her but she is learning what’s expected and keeps all her feet on the ground while wagging her butt feverishly. Usually there is a thought bubble over her head that says, “Hi! I love you! Do you see me? I am really really glad you are here! Do you see me? Did I tell you I love you?”

The young pup that Kloe met recently was not of the canine persuasion. It was a human ~~pup~~ baby. Perri is the granddaughter of our friends Marty and Jen. We were at Marty and Jen’s for a BBQ when Perri was introduced to Kloe. Kloe was very interested and saw that this was a person who just happened to be very small and very young. In fact Kloe and Perri are just about the same age. Kloe probably instinctively knew she had an advantage in most major categories:

Age – tie
Agility – Kloe major advantage
Intelligence – Kloe slight advantage
Weight – Kloe Super major advantage
Cute factor – Tie with the smallest of tie breakers going to Kloe (full disclosure: Perri’s parents and Grandparents were not consulted for the rating of this category)

Kloe laid at grandpa Marty’s feet while he held Perri in his lap. She was fascinated and so very calm as she watched Perri’s every move. I believe that with any dog, and I mean any dog, one must be very cautious with babies and they should not be allowed on the ground with the dog nearby until both parties – dog owner and parent/grandparent – are sure it’s safe.

So was the case with Kloe and Perri. Perri was eventually allowed to sit on the ground near Kloe. Our 80 pound bundle of energy 11 on scale of 10 “puppy” laid there calmly next to Perri and just hung out with “the baby” and let her do her thing.

But just for good measure, and so Perri knew that she loved her, Kloe gave Perri a little kiss on her nose, captured in the video below.

Take that Bulldog, Beagle, and Newfoundlanders!

Young Pups Kloe and Perri

Kloe: a sneak peek

May 1, 2016

As mentioned a few posts ago the tag line of this Golden Kali blog has changed to “Kali’s New Life In The Mountains“. It used to be “Kali’s New Life In America” but it’s been almost two years since she arrived and we are now off to new adventures in the Sierra Foothills.

Kali will have a new companion beginning next week. Her name is Kloe and she is an eight week old Golden Retriever.

So while this post provides a sneak peek to the new pup who joins our pack next week, it’s mostly about why Holly and I feel compelled to bring more ~~craziness~~ love into our lives. Especially during a time of significant transition.

(BTW Kloe is pronounced Chloe but spelled with a K because well, because of Kali… makes sense, right?…)

My sister Victoria and I came out of the same womb, had the same parents and same wonderful childhoods growing up in Suburbia USA. But we couldn’t be more different in so many ways… Last week I called Vicki to update her on our move and tell her we were getting a new pup. My sister is only four years older than me but at times we seem a generation apart. She ~~scolds me~~ gives me “motherly” advice and has a hard time understanding or relating to many of the life choices Holly and I make; like moving to the mountains…

So when I told her about Kloe she didn’t offer congratulations but she did offer many cautions and some of the aformentioned motherly advice. Vicki says, “Michael, puppies are a lot of work. Do you really know what you’re getting into? That puppy is going to pee all over your new house”. I was a little hurt but not surprised. I love my sister and as we’ve aged I’ve come to see her as the beautiful loving person she is. She married late, never had children, and has always been a loving aunt to my kids. She is also a sincere animal lover donating time and money to various animal causes. Maybe in this case just not a lover of animals who may make her brother’s life hectic and dirty his house… 🙂 She is compelled after almost 60 years to take care of me and I love her for that.

This morning I received an email from Vicki apologizing for “being a downer” when I told her about the puppy. The email was an appreciated but not necessary gesture. After all we’re siblings so why start apologizing now! As I went to delete the email I paused and decided to respond. This is what I wrote:

Vicki – Thanks for your email. No apology necessary. Crazy how life works sometimes….

Why do many people have kids? They’re a lot of work, heartache at times, and cost a lot of money. They break things, make messes, and demand your attention when you’re too tired to even think let alone play a game or throw a ball. Yet we have them, mostly on purpose, and once our children are born we have no regrets. Why? Because kids are unconditional love, they’re innocent (at least for a while), they’re fun, they keep us young at heart, they make us feel secure and make us feel complete. Children complete the family unit and sometimes the more the better.

I think for me this is why, especially now that the kids are grown, we have dogs. All the same rationale above about children apply.

Crazy huh?…

– Love, Michael

I’ve never thought about having a dog in these terms before. At least not consciously. But this morning at 7:00 am as I read my sister’s message on my iPhone with Kali lying by my side it was perfectly clear and I felt compelled to reply. Although Vicki had no children family has always been paramount to her and she will understand and agree with my rationale and emotions. She may not even care if Kloe has an “accident” when I bring her over to visit.

Kloe, sitting with the red collar

Kloe and her sisters. I wish we could bring home the Trio!

GPS – Golden Positioning System

November 4, 2015

Kali loves car rides.

When Holly is with me Kali lies down in the back seat and relies on us to the get to right place. But apparently she has caught on to the fact that when Holly is in the car she tends to provide a lot of “input” about which road to take and where to turn. So, when it’s just me and Kali, she insists on helping out with the navigation. But Kali’s technique is a little different than Holly’s…

Kali will look to the skies and quickly establish connection with a satellite staying fixed on it in order to relay the correct coordinates to me, her pilot. The cockpit is a little awkward for her but she doesn’t seem to mind and she almost always gets us to our destination on time and without incident. Which is usually the pet store where treats and praise await my co-pilot.

Golden Positioning System

Where’s Kali?

October 11, 2015

What a glorious morning along the creek trail it was! I think it must be “that time of year” when I know colder and (hopefully) wetter weather is just around the corner. The creek and duck pond seemed more beautiful than ever during our walk this morning. It won’t be long before the shorts, golf shirts, and flip flops are replaced by jeans, hiking boots, and a wool jacket. December through February can get mighty cold (well cold for us CA wimps) dipping down in my area to the mid twenties in the morning. But for now it is warm, sunny, and still flip flop weather even at 7:00 in the morning.

This morning Kali guided me through an area of the pond that is surrounded by low dry golden foliage (because it was dead due to the drought). None the less I found it strikingly beautiful with colors that closely matched Kali’s fur. Almost like camouflage for her.

So, patient and as always a very willing subject, Kali sat amongst the dry straw-like weeds and allowed me to take a few photos. It was a great morning and I will miss the sun and warmth as I begin my annual ritual of lamenting winter.

Where’s Kali?

Fixated on ducks or just being patient?

Good girl!

A glorious autumn morning.

Ducks Like Rain!

October 4, 2015

It’s still too early to expect it. All we can do is hope it eventually arrives. If it doesn’t get here soon we are in deep trouble. Especially our farmers, our ranchers, and our eco-systems. Yes, I’m talking about rain – or lack of it – out here in “droughtville”.

“They” say El-Nino is coming. I hope whomever they are know what they’re talking about! I’ve never been a fan of rain but lately I find myself praying for it! Many of my neighbors are replacing lawns with drought resistant plants, rocks, stones, and cement. Yuck! Suburbia is all about green lawns, lush parks, and strip malls. Ok scratch the strip malls; we could definitely do without any, or at least with less, strip malls. But I’m holding out one more year and, at least for now, the lawns are staying. I’m giving the grass enough water to keep them alive but not so much as to exceed our mandatory reduction percentages. My five minute showers in the morning have been pared down to two minutes and I’ve allocated that water to my lawn. Well at least that’s my rationalization…

Meanwhile, we did get some rain this past week. It wasn’t much but it was rain. A steady drizzle. Precipitation. Whatever – we’ll take it. Even with that little sprinkling the yards around the neighborhood seemed to come alive. More importantly it surely helped the firefighters around the state battling a number of record setting wildfires. The drought resistant plants could give a hoot but the rocks and stones sure looked pretty when they were wet!

Even our creek and pond seemed to come alive. The water levels with even this little bit of rain seemed to rise a couple of feet. This morning along our walk the duck’s seemed happier. Seriously. They were swimming and preening with newfound gusto.

There was a male in the middle of the pond quacking loudly and proudly as if to say, “Ducks like rain!”.

The duck caught Kali’s attention for several seconds and I believe I saw her smile as if to say, “Hey feathered friend – I’m happy for you”. I smiled too. Seeing the pond and creek looking a little bit like it’s old self made me happy. And for a few seconds on this glorious sunny and warm morning time stopped and it was just me, Kali, and mother nature enjoying a moment.

It’s nice to see the water levels higher – at least for a few days. Last week this area was totally dry with just cracked mud.

Even this stoic Blue Heron seemed happy as he surveyed the pond.

I guess Kali and I got a little too close for Mr. Heron’s comfort and he flew off to the other side of the creek. Have a great day BH, enjoy the water and sun.

If you’ve made it this far down the page and post congratulations! Your reward is the full lyrics of “Ducks Like Rain”.

DUCKS LIKE RAIN by Franciscus Henri

Quack quack quack quack quack
Quack quack quack quack quack
Quack quack quack quack quack
Quack! Quack! Quack!

Ducks like rain! Ducks like rain!
Ducks like splishing splashing in the rain.
Ducks like rain! Ducks like rain!
Ducks llike the rainy weather,
Water running off their feathers,
Ducks like splishing splashing in the rain.

Quack quack quack quack quack…

Ducks like rain! Ducks like rain!
Ducks like to widdle waddle in the rain.
Ducks like rain! Ducks like rain!
Ducks like to widdle waddle,
Water knee-deep in the puddle,
Ducks like to widdle waddle in the rain.

Quack quack quack quack quack…

Weekend reflections along the creek trail

September 26, 2015

Kali and I had some beautiful mornings along our creek trail this week and also one very special sunset. As much as I hate to see Summer end the beginning of Fall in Northern California is a beautiful time.

As we head out of the hot and into the warm Kali thought it would nice to let the pictures be worth a thousand blessings…

Rise and shine for Kali and Dad. “Let’s go”!

Sun just creeping up over the trail head.

Stopping to “reflect” at the Duck Pond; our turn around point.

Never too early for Kali to pose at our favorite spot.

And again…

Heading home

And later that night

Our Duck Pond

August 5, 2015

It’s not the greatest pond in the world. It’s not even the greatest pond in town. But it is our adopted pond; our “Duck Pond”. It’s come to represent the special time Kali and I have, usually early in the morning, when the air is cool and the ducks are still sleeping in their nests (until Kali arrives and gives a woof or two). It reminds me of how fortunate we are to live in an area that is safe, prosperous, and pretty. But mostly it reminds of how often I didn’t stop to appreciate our neighborhood creek and ponds until Kali got here last year and we began our morning ritual of walking and “smelling the roses”.

So this morning I took this “pano” shot shot with my iPhone that provides a 180 degree perspective (what did we do before our phones only made calls?!?) that captures the usual turn-around point of our early morning treks, our walks, and our bonding time; me and my Golden Kali.

Kali’s Duck Pond