Our beloved Boomer

by Odessa Langlais
(Northampton, PA USA)

My family was blessed to have one of the most amazing Goldens become a part of our family in Jan 2005. We lost our Golden boy this past August from twisted stomach. This is a blog I wrote about him on facebook.

In my oppinion, all dogs touch your life but there are just a few that touch your soul. Boomer was that kind of dog. He taught my family how to love, how to come together in a time of crisis and he was always there to shower us with kisses and pure happiness.

My heart is still broken without him being here and I find myself wiping silent tears from my cheeks that come without warning. I just miss his big beautiful heart so much.

Boomers loss came at such a crazy time. Life as I had grown accustumed to was changing. My little boy, Nate, was growing up and realizing his own limitations...he was disovering life as it really is. Sometimes, that isnt as much fun as we hoped but it is a sign of maturity. As sad as I was for Nate realizing his limitations, I was full of pride that he had. He was growing up and he was on the road to taking his limitiations and turning them into strengths. For me....I too was also realizing some of my own limitations. I just turned 37...my 20 year high school reunion was right around the corner, I was about to start a new position at work.....so many things were going on. I dont like change. I am a total creature of habbit. Maybe that is why Boomer was always such a comfort to me. There was never a single night that I would enter my home after a long day at work that would not result in me walking through the door to receive a hug from Boomer. Yes, I said it.....an actual hug. Boomer was a big boy, 89 lbs to be exact. He was tall too...very long legs for a Golden Retriever. This being said, he was so amazingly gentle. At night when he would give me the gift of that hug it was just like a feather had landed on my shoulders. He would jump up on his hind legs and place his front legs around my chest and just hold them there kissing my face. It was beautiful. Then after our hug I would sing the Boomer song "Boom Chaka Locka Boomer!" all the while I would bend over low to his face and wag my butt around to imitate his approving wag. Such a wonderful way to be welcomed home.

There are so many wonderful memories of Boomer and they will live in my heart forever. So much has changed in my life since his passing but through it all, I have learned to be thankful. Thankful for the love of that wonderful Golden doggy, thankful of Gods love...so very thankful that He has been there to carry me through bad times, to carry my husband and I through grief that shook our souls, thankful for my beautiful son and thankful for the lessons he has learned and the lessons that he will learn. Just thankful.

In recent weeks I have also been faced with mortality. Two of my wonderful classmates recently joined the angels in Heaven. Its hard for me to wrap my mind around it, it hard for me to comfort my soul eventhough I know they are both joyous and comforted in Gods Kingdom. How are their families going to do all this?? How will they ever be whole again?? I shake my head now as I dont have an answer, but I do know that God does. Just as I weep over the loss of my beloved Golden and God comforts me, God will come and wrap his arms around those families. He will give them peace. Friends and other family members here on earth will fill their worlds with love, prayer and well wishes. They will rally around and give support and I know eventually the sun will shine again.

The people (and my Golden doggy) that have left us behind were a gift from God. To honor their lives lets give thanks! Live each day as if it were our last, lets share our love of GOD with everyone we know and let the beauty of our loved ones pour from our heart so that their love may warm someone elses heart.

I love you Boomer RIP 8-22-10

In loving memory of Michelle Thompson Clark RIP 9-26-10

In loving memory of Michael Goolesby RIP 7-29-10



We just lost our best friend. In a matter of hours the best dog this world has ever known went to rest in doggy heaven. I will miss him more than words can ever say. Thank you Boomer for bringing so much joy into our world. RIP big boy. High Five....