THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES ...


Mom and Dad (Ron & Wendy), Family and Friends -

It was Aug., 95', but seems like it was just yesterday when I was hiding under the front seat of your car on that long ride from Lockport, NY to my new home in Erie, PA. But it was actually 90-years ago (canine years), and it's been a fun ride ever since.

Those 1st few weeks were a real drag for you guys and me too. Little did we know that I was allergic to IAMS puppy chow, the most mild dog food going. Once we resolved that issue I was sleeping thru the night like a big dog as my tummy didn't hurt anymore. It was soon after that you taught me the command, 'Hurry Up' and put the bells on the back door, both of which had me house trained in no time.

Then came 'puppy school'. Was I a HIT or what? Everyone thought I was so damn cute, and that was even before my feathers and tail had filled out. Soon after that you guys went on your Las Vegas vacation and I went to stay at Glenwood Pet so that nice Dr. Ken Felix could "fix" me. What was it with that - - - I never did feel the same after that ! Oh well, it was still a fun time there cuz I got so much lovin', and my tummy felt better too after the good doctor emptied all the plastic belt parts out of my tummy.

I'm now almost a year old and fully grown when you guys notice that I'm 'bunny hopping' with my rear paws - - - this is BAD NEWS and it's time to visit Dr. Felix again. OUCH, Hip Dysplasia! This is a big time boo-boo and means another long car ride to Cleveland, OH and the Pet Referral Clinic. A real nice man, Dr. Kaderly examines me and promises to fix my hip if you guys say it's OK. Your answer was YES, and I soon became the Bionic Puppy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I love you guys so much!

The years pass on when you decide WE need more room at 3509 Oakwood, and decide to add the Family Room and Deck. Pretty neat stuff. I now get to run around the whole downstairs, have glass sliding doors to check out the backyard, and the deck to catch some snoozes on.

Then the BIG move happens - - - the Farmhouse in Girard! You take me out to check it out and get my approval, and I'm thinking "Wow, this whole place can be mine"! It's so big I can get my workout w/o having to go outside. But the outside is wonderful -- one full acre to roam and sniff and, yes no special place to have to worry about Mother Nature's calling. All the while we're visiting, Dad you kept calling it Maggie's House so I felt like it was Home, and it did.

The weekdays were pretty long in my new home - - 6:00 AM til 5:30 PM before I would see you again, but I worked it out by snoozing a lot and thinking about the weekends when I could have you both to myself.

Whether it was 5:30 weekdays or on the weekend I did make sure you knew I was there. Mom could never prepare a meal w/o having me underfoot. More likely than not she'd 'accidentally' drop a piece or two of some raw vegetable on the floor (carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) for me to 'hoover up' - - - I liked them all so it didn't matter.

Then there was "snibs" time - - - Mom's special name for the tiny 3-4 pieces of whatever you saved me from your meal. The "snibs" were never big - - - a rigatoni cut into 3-pc's., a morsel of chicken or even a crust of toast. I didn't care because it was my special human food treat. I'd wait in my "down" position, and if I ever got impatient and up too soon, Dad would always remind me with a 'where are you supposed to be', and I got back down real quick. Aunt Kimmy would have been mortified at "snibs time" because Dad usually used the end of his fork to give them to me. "Not to worry, Aunt Kim. NO HARM, NO FOUL" - - - Mom and Dad never got Canine Flu.

Some of my favorites were sweet treats - - especially tiny, tiny pieces of chocolate chip cookies! Oh, to kill for! Then there were the chestnuts. Yes, every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Dad would roast chestnuts in the micro. I'd wait patiently thru the whole routine: 1st came the tiny slits in each nut, smelling them while they were 'nuking', and then waiting for them to cool. But the long wait was worth it because Dad always rewarded me with those special "snibs" every year.

Was food high on my priority list? You bet. But it was just being with Mom and Dad that was the best!! At home I had to have my nose right in the middle of whatever project you had going - - - - I couldn't get my furry body close enough. Remember back at Oakwood when you replaced the flooring of that Tiny 4' x 6' bathroom? Not only did you have to make some pretty tight cuts around the toilet bowl, but there I was 'managing' the job and laying right next to you. At the Farmhouse I was there to 'help' on so many chores: planting the garden, raking leaves, remodeling the bathroom, Mom's laying ceramic tile in the sunporch, and my favorite ...... the mortaring of all those stones around the front and side porches. Mom, remember how patient you were finding the right size stone that Dad needed to cement in that massive puzzle? You'd find it, lay it down and before Dad would get to that space I'd snatch it and be out on the lawn gnawing away at its corners - - - at the end of each day the lawn was full of dog-slobbered stones. That was Great Fun!

The treats were always good and the chores alot of fun, but the BEST time was when you took me for a ride to visit other people and places. When you got out my collar and lead, I would get so excited I almost wet myself. Everywhere you took me was Great! If Dad wasn't driving too fast he'd open the windows so I could put my head out and let my ears flap in the breeze. Remember the Civic with the sunroof? Other drivers would look twice when they saw my head sticking out the roof. But the fun would really start when we'd stop, get out and visit ALL those neat people!

It seems like everywhere we went the people liked me and wanted to give me a pet - - - - you don't know how much Goldens love that ! The heck with other dogs, give me a people-person every time. It's hard to pick my favorite place to visit. There were trips to Grandma's and Aunt Rem's; the trip to Cousin Diana's and once to see Aunt Kim and Uncle Chris; the long trip to Littlestown and the Arter Family reunion. But I think my favorites were the short rides: a couple of visits to Dad's old office at STERIS, visits to Petsmart and Lowes; Dr. Felix and Kayla at Glenwood Pet; special trips to the PREP Athletic office and even a surprise visit to that 'Good Girl', Mrs. Mullen ....... her 'bark really was worse than her bite'. The best trip though was our yearly visit to the Christmas Tree farm in Edinboro to cut down our little tree. I know Mom was ready to buy an artificial one a ways back, but always gave in because she knew how much I liked to visit and romp amongst all the trees and snow.

Well folks, it's time to stop my rambling. The last 9-months in our new home on W. Gore Rd have been good and peaceful. There's a lot of grass, trees, bushes and places to sniff so it reminded me much of the Farmhouse. I've been resting and sleeping so much lately that I really think it's time to say 'Farewell'.

It has been wonderful to be with you all, and may your memories of me be the same.

Maggie ...


- - - Maggie Mae left us suddenly, but peacefully on Thursday, May 15th. She would have been 13 on June 25th. She was a loyal, loving friend and companion and will be missed more than you can know.

Thank you for letting us share her life with you.

Sincerely,

Ron and Wendy...