Re-Reading Golden Kali

May 15, 2022

A friend and recent follower of this Golden Kali blog told me that she read all the posts from beginning to current. She said she wanted to really know Kali’s story so she started from the beginning. Wow – that is quite a compliment that is not lost on me! It also inspired me to do the same – go back and re-read all my posts from the beginning. The beginning was the day after Kali’s arrival from Taiwan in May of 2014.

I’m currently up to July of 2016 and as I am reading these posts two things have stood out to me.

The first is how special my relationship with Kali was (and still is even though she is gone).

In my heart and soul I knew from day one that Kali was special. She was meant for me and I was meant for her! I knew it then, I know it now, and I will always know it. It was a once in a lifetime gift bestowed upon Kali and I from destiny.

Reading these posts again after so many years has reminded me in great detail of all the special moments Kali and I had together. For the first two years it was just Kali and I. We were almost always together. There were no other canine siblings and Kali had the full compliment of my attention 24/7. These early days – just her and I – established a foundation of mutual trust, respect, and love. And most importantly it established a bond that cannot be broken. I love Kloe and Koda as much as Kali but the relationships are a little different. There has never been just Kloe. There has never been just Koda. But there were two years when there was just Kali. Reading these old posts has reminded me of that special time in our lives with a renewed appreciation of what Kali meant to me and me to her.

The second thing that has stood out is the relationships and camaraderie that developed between fellow bloggers and followers of Golden Kali.

After each post I have also been reading comments made by these people many who have become friends over the years.

When my daughter was a teen-ager, in the early days of social media, she would occasionally refer to someone as her friend who she knew online from a social media site. As a parent this made me very concerned for obvious reasons. That my daughter was referring to someone as a friend who she had never met face to face or even voice to voice on the phone was a worry for me.

But later, through the Golden Kali blog, I realized that it was possible to make friends through social media. Comments resulting from blog posts created a basis for me to get to know the regular followers and vice-versa. While Kali has always been the “perfect” dog like so many rescues she had her set of challenges. I wrote about these challenges and many followers, offered empathy, advice, or simply shared a similar experience. I also followed their blogs and through ongoing dialogue and sharing of experiences – and life in general – we’ve developed friendships. For that I’m grateful.

So Kali, although physically gone, continues to very present in my life. I don’t expect that to ever change. Re-reading our story from beginning has been a great reminder (for my brain) of everything Kali means to me. This of course is something my heart always knew and will never need to be reminded of.

Partners

June 26, 2021

About 15 years ago I was sitting in my vet’s waiting room in Livermore, CA with our first Golden Retriever, Bailey. Hanging on the wall was a print of a Firefighter with his arms around a Golden Retriever. The picture captivated me in a deeply emotional way. The firefighter is sitting on the ground, eyes closed looking exhausted and traumatized. He wears knee pads, leather gloves, and a helmet with a mounted flashlight. He is positioned in a way that he can cradle his partner, a Golden Retriever, between his legs. The Golden is wearing an orange vest with an American Flag and the word “Rescue” inside a white cross. With tired eyes the dog looks equally exhausted and sad as his handler.

What struck me about this print was that within the tired eyes of the golden retriever I also saw compassion.

I stood up and got a closer look at the print and learned it was called “Partners”. I later learned that the firefighter’s name was Skip Fernandez and the rescue dog’s name was Aspen. The painting depicted a real life scenario where they sat in the rubble of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City after the infamous bombing in April of 1995.

During each subsequent visit to the vet I would look at the print of Skip Fernandez and Aspen and be drawn further and further into the scene. A couple of years ago began searching for “Partners” to purchase. l found that it had been out of circulation for many years. There were a few copies on eBay that were framed and very expensive. The two I found were located in the MidWest and East Coast. With shipping and insurance I deemed it cost prohibitive. I was about to give up looking when I found an unframed copy on eBay. I bought it had it framed locally and it now hangs in my office.

The first time I saw the print was many years before my sweet Kloe, now five years old, was born. Years later I now see the same compassion in Kloe’s eyes that I see in Aspen’s eyes. Kloe has lived a blessed life and has never had to sacrifice and serve as Aspen did. But I beleive that Kloe, with the right training, could have been effective in some type of service. Her desire to please, to communicate, and to serve is strong. But mostly it’s her compassion and her ability to feel what the person next to her is feeling; and to react to those feelings. If it’s joy she shares that joy. And if it’s pain I believe she tries to absorb the pain and bring relief to the person who is suffering.

I was honored to have known a search and rescue dog named Indie. Indie, like so many other Golden Retrievers, was diagnosed with cancer. He continued to serve until the end but recently the pain became evident and his owners recently made the difficult decision to put Indie down and take his pain away. As his owner and handler wrote, “The average dog is a better person than the average person; Indie was never average.” So this print of Partners now has an even more special meaning for me. I will always see Kloe in Aspen’s eyes. But this print will now also serve to remind me of Indie and the many search and rescue dogs and their handlers who make so many sacrifices to help others.

RIP Aspen. RIP Indie. Thank you for your service.

“partners”, Skip Fernandez and “Aspen”

“indie”

Chewbacca

April 30, 2018

If you were expecting a post about Star Wars or the Millennium Falcon you will be disappointed. If you were expecting a post about an adorable five month old Golden Retriever named Chewbacca you are in the right place. Although the hair color is the same between the two aforementioned Chewbaccas, and they both go by the nickname “Chewie”, the similarities end there.

Chewie the pup came by The Golden K today for a meet and greet with my girls and will be back next month for an extended stay when we puppy sit while his mom is out of town.

Kali, as expected, was a little stand offish when Chewie arrived. She barked a bit as if to say, “Who’s this whipper-snapper and what’s he doing in MY back yard?” Kali is not a fan of change so when another dog enters her “space” it takes a while for her to adjust. The same thing happened two years ago when we brought Kloe home at 9 weeks old. Kali made it clear that she was not pleased but within an hour they were cooing, playing Tug-O-Dog, and spooning. Today, Kloe eventually settled down and was accepting of Chewie especially when I assembled the trio for biscuits. When Chewie returns in a few weeks I’m sure Kali will be a good pup-sitter and embrace the young Chewie just as she did with Kloe.

That is if Kloe gives her a chance! Kloe was smitten with Chewie the moment he arrived.

Kloe has not been around a dog younger than her so I was anxious to see how she, now two years old, would play with a young pup a quarter her age and half her size. When Kloe herself was a wee-young pup playing with Kali, Kali always used constraint and seem to instinctively know she could not use the full force of her size and mature skill set. So I was pleased today to see Kloe exhibit similar constraint with Chewie. When engaging with a dog she has not met before Kloe always assumes a non-threatening posture, usually in a attentive down position, waiting for the other dog to initiate play. It was no different with Chewie. Kloe seemed to immediately give Chewie the respect she shows older dogs and allowed him to get comfortable before assuming a puppy-pose and an invitation to play.

And play they did. Keep away. Chase. Stick chewing and fetch. Jumping, running and rolling. So yeah – they were acting like a couple of dogs.

And I think those couple of dogs, and Kali too, are going to have a great time next month when Chewbacca comes back for an extended stay at The Golden K.

Chewbacca “Chewie”

Kloe and Chewie acting like dogs

The Outdoor Bath Tub

July 17, 2016

Of the many canine friendly amenities at Kali’s new mountain house there is one that will make both our lives easier about once a month. The outdoor bath tub. The previous owners were dog lovers like us. They had three of their own and many things in and around the house were very clearly designed to be dog friendly and safe.

The tub was pretty dirty from winter and not being used for some time and I finally got around to cleaning it today. The out door bath tub is located adjacent to the stand alone garage up the hill from the house. I headed up the to garage with some cleaning supplies and Kali followed along.

I was only planning on cleaning the tub – not Kali. But that all changed as I as I finished cleaning and looked over to my right to see Kali laying down in a large puddle of mud. It’s been pretty hot the past several days and I’m sure the cool muddy water felt very good to her. I look over at Kali and start to laugh. Kali looks up and smiles as if to say, “Hey Dad – this is great! A girl needs spa treatment every now and then and this mineral laced mud and mountain water will do wonders for my skin and completion.”

So what better way to christen the outdoor bath tub than on a warm Sunday afternoon enjoying Kali’s new life in the mountains.

The tub and Kali’s “mineral springs” to the right

I love this place

Can I get a Pedi next?

Toast Of The Town

April 15, 2016

The town is the kitchen and the Toast is really just a piece of bread….

It all started over a year ago when Kali had a minor medical issue that required daily pills for a week or so. Kali i~~s not the most discerning diner in the world Kali~~ will eat just about anything. So I thought I could just give her the pills and she would gulp them down as she does with anything that comes from the kitchen and out of my hand.

I was surprised when Kali spit the pill out of her mouth. Being a resourceful and evolved human being I quickly figured out that if I wrapped the pill in a piece of bread that Kali would gulp down the pill wrapped in bread and be none the wiser for the experience.

This routine went on for the week without incident.

Get up in the morning
Get the medicine
Go to the cabinet and get a piece of bread
Wrap the pill in the bread
Ask Kali to sit a reasonable distance away from the kitchen
Bring the bread wrapped pill to Kali
Boom – Kali gets her medicine and as far as she is concerned she got some people food from the (people) cabinet

The evolved human being wins as usual. Right? Well, maybe…

Dogs love to be trained. They love the interaction, mental stimulation, and rewards that follow successful execution of the command, trick, or show of obedience. When Kali followed me into the kitchen in the morning and I sent her out and followed that with a piece of bread that happened to have a pill inside she was trained. Trained to know that when I go near the cabinet where the bread lives there is a good chance that she will get a piece of bread. She’s believes it because since then I follow the same routine; because (duh!) I a very trainable….

Since that period of time when Kali had the meds and I wrapped them in bread there is the morning time routine – that occurs right after her formal breakfast of kibble – of me fixing my breakfast which almost always includes the bread cabinet.

Kali, and now Smokey too, will immediately “assume the position” on the edge of the kitchen and wait for their piece of bread; their “toast” as I now refer to it as.

It’s great to be trained. It’s liberating. I love the interaction and mental stimulation I get when Kali shows me what I need to do to make her happy. I really like the rewards of licks and tail wags I get when I do something right. And best of all, Kali loves it when i am obedient.

Kali and Smokey waiting for their toast from their all trained Dad

Does Kali Know It’s Christmas?

December 25, 2015

In 1984 a group of musical artists organized by Bob Geldof came together to record a song Geldof had written called “Do They Know It’s Christmas”. It was written and recorded to bring awareness to a famine occurring in Ethiopia.

The spirit and intentions of the song, performance, and related revenue donated to the cause was noble and righteous. It marked a trend of social responsibility from artists wanting to make a difference in the world. This has been carried on over the years by many others with events like Willie Nelsons’ Farm Aid benefiting farmers with financial challenges and Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Concert that benefits individuals with severe speech and physical impairments.

I thought about the song earlier today when I watched Kali sleeping after a long walk (in the cold and rain – poor me, right?). It’s Christmas Eve but what the heck does she care. She’s warm, fed, loved, and rescued. It’s just another day in paradise and for that I am grateful. It makes me feel good to know that this beautiful soul will be safe and loved for the rest of her life. It also pains me to know there are so many dogs that aren’t as fortunate as Kali as they wait to be rescued – both figuratively and literally – but may never be.

So on this Christmas Eve does Kali know it’s Christmas? Of course not. Tomorrow family will be over and we’ll open gifts, eat, drink, reminisce, honor those that have passed before us (I miss you Dad!) and be merry. But before all of that Kali and I will get up about 6:30, she’ll eat breakfast, she’ll watch me drink coffee and read the paper, she’ll beg while I prepare my breakfast (but retreat to her “spot” when asked), complain that we haven’t gone for our walk yet, go for a walk, return home to a warm bed, nap, and on and on and on like every other day. So will she know it’s Christmas? Nope.

And that’s just fine for both of us.

Having said all of that, I think if Kali had a concept of Christmas she would wish each and every one of you a very merry and blessed Christmas.

My favorite picture of my Kali. She rarely smiles but when she does it’s Golden.

Update on “the attack”

November 15, 2015

We were pleasantly surprised that Kali woke up feeling much better the morning after being attacked by the two Rottweilers. Although still stiff she was able to put weight on her hind leg that had been so sensitive the hight before. We kept the vet appointment that afternoon and found out that she had a severely strained ligament. All in all Kali was fortunate to have come away with only this strain given the 150 pounds of Rottweilers that pounced on her only 24 hours before.

Dr. Brenda sent us home with some muscle relaxers and pain medicine (for Kali not us) and instructions to apply cold therapy along her back muscles and heat therapy to the ligament a few times a day and to perform frequent massages to the ligament. Talk about doggie day-spa! Kali is a great patient and of course loves the extra attention she has been getting.

After a few days off we’re back on the trail and Kali is doing just fine. In fact, now that the golf course is closed we’ve gone off trail for some of our daily walks taking advantage of the open fairways to let Kali romp and explore.

If I only had another biscuit

September 20, 2015

We were at my older son Jonathan’s end of the year soccer party. He was seven at the time and his younger brother Michael was four. The party was at a pizza parlor with the usual array of video games peppered throughout the building. Like most kids my boys loved video games and they would spend hours and hours (and a lot of money) playing them if we had allowed them to. My younger son Michael was especially “passionate” about video games and could become laser locked on any given game especially if he was about to beat a “level” or the “boss”.

The soccer team and their siblings were given a small bag with eight quarters to play video games before the pizza came out and before awards were presented. My boys quickly consumed the eight quarters and then I gave them another eight quarters each. The end of the year party goes on and most of the kids have had enough video games and are ready for pizza. But then there’s Michael standing in the middle of the dinning room looking quite forlorn. Looking at no one directly he says in a most exasperated voice, “If I only had another quarter”. All at once about ten dads reach in their pockets and offer their quarters to Michael.

So fast forward about 25 years and now this is Kali. Standing in the middle of the room saying, “If only I had another biscuit.”

Today was not much different from most days for Kali. Get up, eat breakfast. Go for a walk, get training treats. Come home watch dad make his breakfast and for staying out of the kitchen, get biscuits. Later on watch dad make his lunch and get biscuits for staying out of the kitchen again. Later in the afternoon get a Kong filled with carrots and peanut butter just ’cause. I think even my son Michael, at four years old as he was in that pizza parlor, would have to agree that this is a lot of (figurative) quarters.

But there Kali is with her big brown eyes and her oh-so-optimistic outlook. If dad’s got food there is a chance I’ll get some. If dad has quarters in his pocket there’s a chance for one more video game.

And Kali, like Michael, is right. There’s always another quarter. All you’ve got to have is a little moxie to ask for it, indirectly or otherwise. I love Kali like I love my kids. But as a parent there had to be some limits. And for Kali there needs to be limits too, right? Michael’s sad eyes staring longingly over at the giant Atari game. Kali’s beautiful brown eyes staring at my snack. Arghh!… Stay strong. Be mature, Be the voice of reason and discipline. Don’t lie. Be honest and say “yes, I do have another quarter but it is not in your best interest if I give it to you”.

Kali with her sweet brown piercing eyes and thought bubble over her head with a small picture of my son Michael next to it, “If I only had another biscuit”.

Me with a thought bubble over my head “Kali and Michael have been spending WAY too much time together”.

If I only had another biscuit

Blazing New Trails

August 16, 2015

The neighborhood was all a twitter as the engines rolled in with sirens and hoses. One after another the engines kept coming and more and more firemen hit the trail.

You know you live in a quiet neighborhood when the biggest event in recent history is five or six fire vehicles pulling onto your street to douse a small fire. But, it could have been a much larger fire – lord knows the elements are prime for a huge blaze – but our guys took care of business quickly and efficiently.

The trail head to Kali’s creek trail begins at the end of the block. After over a year of walking the trail almost daily Kali knows the trail like the back of her paw. Pretty much the same sights, same smells, and same neighbors out for strolls with the dogs, a bike ride or a jog. Hit the trail head, stop for a quick poop (Kali not me), wrap around the golf course, bark -if antagonized – at a couple yap-yap dogs through a fence in a trailside home, on to the duck pond, a quick jaunt past the dog park (past being the operative term here since Kali is not ready to go in yet), and then we head home. It’s our routine.

So it was of some personal interest to Kali and I when we heard the fire engines and saw that they were converging at the trail head from both sides of the creek to address a fire that had started in the brush. One of the fire fighters told me that the fire had been started by someone throwing a flare into the creek. I hate to assume it was kids who did it but boredom in suburbia after two months of summer vacation is the likely circumstance for someone to “see what would happen”.

We’re in the middle of a mini-heat wave and the temps were in the low 100’s yesterday and will remain so for another couple of days. So on top of an already drought-ridden landscape the high temps and moderate winds make anywhere in this area prime for a major fire with little effort on mother nature’s part of any one stupid enough to throw a burning cigarette – of flare – into a wooded area. Fortunately, the fire was put out quickly with minimal impact to the creek and no harm to any of the surrounding homes.

I’ve always been fascinated with fire fighting. When I was five years old I told my mother I wanted to be a fireman. To this day I wish I had gone into that line of work and don’t have a reason or excuse for why I didn’t. When I see news stories about fires this time of year, homes in danger, and acres and acres ablaze I feel compelled to drive to the area to see what I can do to help. “Give me a shovel. Here, I’ll help move that hose….. “. “Stay out of the way old man. If you wanted to be a fire fighter you should have done so years ago when you were in your prime!”. Sigh…. “OK, I’ll just watch from here but let me know if you need anything. I’ve got a real cool dog – you want to meet her later? Maybe she could ride in the engine next to you.”

Gaining access at the trail head

Crews Converging

“Let’s roll boys! We’ve got a fire to put out before the game comes on back at the fire house….”

I guess this is one way to get the water level back up in the creek….

All is well again at the creek

I have few if any regrets in my life but not being a fire fighter may be one. And if I had been I guess I’d be adopting Dalmatians instead of Golden Retrievers, right? NOT! I can guarantee you that If I was a fire fighter my Golden Kali would be riding and smiling along side of me in Engine No. 7 and helping to keep her community safe.

Tradition

July 12, 2015

Kali arrived from Taiwan Saturday evening of Memorial Day Weekend, 2014. At the airport In Taiwan volunteers had put scarfs with Taiwanese characters on all the dogs as they prepared them for the long plane ride to America. When I took Kali out of her travel crate she was sporting this handsome looking scarf from Taiwan. I walked Kali around the parking lot at SFO and once she got her land legs back one of the volunteers took off the scarf from Taiwan and replaced it with a scarf bearing the American stars and stripes This is the scarf that Kali wore home that night. That gesture – the switching of the scarves – served as a great symbol of Kali’s transition from Taiwan to America. New sights, new smells, new symbols, and new care givers.

I took the scarf off of Kali the next day. Holly had carried the scarf with the Taiwanese characters home in her purse the night before. She tied both scarves to Kali’s crate, which by the way she never used because she never really needed it. The crate was folded up and put in storage a few weeks after Kali arrived once we saw that Kali was able to find our her own safe and special places around the house. She had demonstrated to us very quickly how respectful she could be of the house.

Last year on the morning of the 4th of July I untied the stars and stripes scarf from her folded up crate and put it on Kali to wear for the day. I did the same thing this year and you can see her regally sporting it in the picture below.

Besides routine I’m also a big fan of tradition. Years ago I made a mix tape (remember those?) of songs that seemed Americana to me. Some Country songs, some Rock, some Jazz; an electic mix of songs that reminded me of America for one reason or another. I play it every fourth of July. Now, after just two 4th of July holidays with Kali her stars and stripes scarf has quickly become part of my 4th of July tradition. It made me feel so good to see her wear it last Saturday knowing what it stands for.

And what does it stand for? Yes, perhaps the obvious patriotic things associated with our red, white, and blue stars and stripes. But with this tradition it stands more for Kali’s journey from Taiwan to America. It’s gratifying to know there are people whom I’ve never met half way around the world who took Kali in, cared for her, and sent her to me, on a plane, with a scarf. And once she landed other volunteers made the symbolic gesture of changing the scarves out and sending her home with us as an American dog.

Traditions evolve and that mix tape I mentioned is actually now played digitally from my iPhone sent via bluetooth to speakers. Ahh, technology. But the scarfs are and will remain fabric; both literally and figuratively. Kali has memories and experiences from Taiwan I’ll never know or appreciate. They’re as meaningful as the experiences she’s had in America and account for a large part of the fabric that makes her who’s she is. In fact they’re probably more meaningful. Maybe the memories and instincts gained in Taiwan will fade as the years pass or maybe they’ll forever define who she is. But make no mistake. Kali has embraced America and all the blessings and privileges of being American (warts and all; and there are many).

Next year as the 4th of July holiday get’s close I’ll begin thinking about Kali’s scarf and my mix tape. I’ll make a mental note about how many “4th’s” she’s been with us. I’ll spruce up the yard for our BBQ and rationalize why it’s better to stay home than fighting the crowds at a community celebration. I’ll take Kali for a walk sporting her scarf which will elicit smiles and compliments from those we pass along the way. And at some point during the day I’ll sit with Kali and make a toast and give a nod of acknowledgment and thanks to the dedicated volunteers in Taiwan who made it possible for me to have a very special dog with a very special scarf.