In loving memory of Gordon Shumway beloved family friend who left us on Friday, May 1st, 2015

My name is Gordon Shumway and I have lived a long and full life.  I have been loved every day and I have loved every day.   I was born 12 years ago (that’s 84 in people years).  My Dad adopted me and brought me home to his little house with the biggest and best backyard anyone could imagine.

We were pretty happy and spent hours and hours playing and hanging out.

Then it happened!!!!!!!!!!  He brought home this pretty blonde woman for a visit. I liked her well enough but expected she’d head out after dark.  She didn’t.  So I ate her shoe!!!!  I thought it would teach her a lesson and she’d go home and give me back my side of the bed.  She didn’t.

One morning she and I were alone at home and I heard a big knock on the door.  STRANGERS! I had to protect her and jumped up on the bed and threw my body over her and I barked and barked and barked as loudly as I could…………’cause no one was going to hurt my Mommy!  Yup, I knew it even before they did.  She was my Mommy and this is where she belonged and I loved her as big as the sky.

I like watching television but when there are other animals I tend to get a little over-excited and Mom and Dad had to teach me to turn around and look at the wall.  It really works and is a good strategy for anyone who gets a little anxious.  Just take a break and turn around and face the wall.

Honestly, I am just the most loved dog.  I have a ton of grandparents.  I love my Bubby (she’s writing my story).  Bubby gives me the best back rubs.  Sigh……when she comes to visit, I just sit in front of her and wait for her to start. If she ignores me for a second, I nudge her and tuck my head in her elbow until she remembers.  I love when she massages down my spine and gets her fingers into my hips.  She and I both have “Arf-ritus”.  For a while we both took glucosamine.  I love when Bubby visits.  She’s an early riser and as soon as she wakes up, we love to head outside.  Sometimes I even wake her up…she doesn’t mind and it means we can go out and play for awhile and I get my breakfast really early!  Three big cups of food and any pills or vitamins I am taking at the time. Bubby likes to count them out for me.  She came to stay with me one weekend while my folks were away.  I got to sleep on their bed and Bubby came in much later.  She snuggled up to me and gave me a big a hug.  I was so happy that I let out a big sigh and wiggled up closer to her!!!  I do love my Bubby.

Bubby isn’t much of an artist but she drew a cartoon of our big garden and all the animals that are running around in the backyard when I am in the house.  They eat our food and they know when I come out, I am going to have a great time chasing them.   Hahahaha…so much fun…especially the squirrels.   You should have seen me go!  I was so fast back in the day.

Life was great…I had everything a dog could want.  There were good times and bad times but I just loved my Dad and my Mom through it all.  Then one day….we were four in the house!!!  Life got a little hectic….man, that little cutie takes a lot of attention but I love him to pieces.  His name is Oscar George.  The first few weeks I thought Mom and Dad were going crazy….lol.

I have my own bed and it is supposed to be my personal space but Bubby and my buddy/brother Oscar don’t understand that. They love to stretch out with me.  Here is a photo of me and Oscar…I am the one with the greying whiskers.

My name is Gordon Shumway, I love you all and I know you will always love me.