Farewell to Blondi

Bob Choi

19 April 2011

Blondi was a 5-year old Golden Retriever. We had him since he was a puppy. He grew up to be a happy, cheerful and playful dog. Everyone in the neigborhood adored him. He was gentle and loving and a favorite among the children and if there was an award for the friendliest dog at Discovery Bay, Blondi would have won it paws down.

His only flaw (as a Retriever) was that he didn't know to retrieve. When I played "fetch" with him, he would run after the object, picked it up and....walked away with it instead of bringing it back!

My wife Kitty and I loved him like a son that we didn't have. So it was quite a blow to us when he Blondi was diagnosed with lymphoma a few months ago. On the day he left us, all his friends (human as well as canine) came to our flat to see him off. There was not a dry eye in the crowd.

It was the first time I cried over a dog and I was not ashamed of it.

I am not sure if there's such a thing as "Doggie Haven" but I'd love to visit him and teach him how to fetch properly when my time comes. BUT FIRST I need to make sure I'll be going to heaven myself.