Sudden Solar Eclipse

Last week I lost a best buddy. Ranger was a 10-year old Golden Retriever who owned my parents. I also fell under his jurisdiction whenever I visited. Ranger burst onto the Western Montana scene at about the age of nine weeks. Mom and dad planned on a puppy. They did not plan on Ranger. To their delight Ranger was the epitome of “Happy Happy Joy Joy.” On the other hand, Ranger was also an exuberant BRAT. He had many tools in his BRAT arsenal, i.e. sharp milk teeth, sharp baby claws, and the ability to hurtle himself mindlessly at any object at warp speed. For the first time ever my parents found themselves putting their puppy down for a nap in his crate. They also used the crate for time out … it was either that or they were going to have to leave their home and let Ranger take over the mortgage. Based on his short attention span, a foreclosure was likely in that scenario. During Ranger's puppyhood, my parents took crate time (and their mental health) seriously.

The puppy rapidly collected more toys than any of his predecessors as my parents desperately searched for distractions to save their slipping grip on sanity. He even had his own wading pool. I'm not sure whether my brothers and I had our own wading pool as children, but Ranger had a wading pool. Of course, my brothers and I also didn't have to do time out in a crate. I guess we're even.

Luckily for Ranger, his BRAT abilities were offset by his unbearable cuteness. Have you ever seen a puppy that looked more like a chocolate chip cookie?

Errr...maybe a chocolate chip cookie who has been digging in the yard.

He could also be the sweetest puppy in the world when he ran out of steam.

Ranger continued this showy yoga position throughout his life, spawning copycats like Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and Britney Spears who adopted the "Ranger Look" while exiting limousines.

Finally, at about age 5, Ranger grew up (mostly). About 85% of the time he was the lovely companion dog one sees plastered on Golden Retriever calendars. However he retained enough puppy traits to be a challenge, and endlessly entertaining. He snatched napkins off of laps. He snatched shoes. He snatched socks. Whenever he burgled one of these items, he would proudly parade around the room in circles with his gorgeous tail flagging behind him until someone bargained with him by swapping a treat for the contraband.

Even as a dignified adult, Ranger devoted himself to stealing ribbons and bows each and every Christmas. Since he was one of the family barring his access to the gift unwrapping was unthinkable. Of course, we mere humans would take away his ribbons, bows and gift boxes, but he always managed to wear us down to the point where he would end up in a corner of the living room with his very own box to shred.

Ranger had a huge heart and guests were always welcome at his house, even canine guests. I brought my own BRAT to the house when Koba was a very small puppy. Koba took one look at that big fluffy tail and he pounced. Ranger didn’t bat an eye and a friendship was formed. Koba visited a few more times when he grew up (mostly) and they had a grand time racing around the yard together. I have to admit being a tad smug when Ranger would cock one eyebrow at me at the end of an exhausting day with a Schipperke that all but begged me to please take the Schipperke away for awhile.

Ranger left us suddenly and unexpectedly. None of us were prepared for the gaping hole he left behind. But I think Ranger would prefer it this way. He was never big on good-byes.

Vaya con dios Big Fuzz. We miss you something awful.