My Dearest Duke

My dearest Duke… oh gosh….  Did I just make a post about Dumb Happy boys???  😢 … Duke my first Royal Gent if you followed me from the start.. you know he was my first boy "my first labrador" …. I worked full time at West Virginia University and bought my first show puppy… he was the most spectacular boy ever – seriously! The show scene really missed out!  But oh well.. …. I loved him… I carried him … literally for 6 months he never touched a stair… I didn’t want him to exert himself, so he also rode in the bottom of our first granddaughters stroller as we went for walks… he was very spoiled… 

When he was 8 months old he hit the road and showed a while with a handler, traveling all over.. to Oklahoma and then ending his show route in Morgantown WV where I waited to see him perform after months on the road… of course I had to stay out of sight… as he was a mommas boy… as I peered from afar the judge was getting ready to examine him… and what did Dukie do? Well he hit the ground and rolled over for a tummy scratch… ohhhh Duke! When he saw me it was enough… he ran to me.. and he never left again… 

Duke and my next boy Thor grew up together… they were a sight to behold… brutes… they had a tussle once and I took Duke to the vet… the vet said who bit him, I said his brother Thor… the vet said… you have a lab that is bigger than Duke???!!!??!! Lol  he was fine of course … 

I am not sure why I am rambling… I should just say it out loud that Duke passed from cancer… such devastating news… and so unbelievably sad.. as I remember all of our adventures.. 

I was his first mom… but we retired Duke to a wonderful lady named “Margo” a couple years ago… Margo lived near the sea and wanted a boy to fill a lonely spot in her life.. and I remember the first time speaking to her on the phone… and we both cried.. she had been talking to me about Duke for some time… I don’t know really how.. we let him go… but Margo truly was sent from heaven and no doubt Duke became her everything, and she became his everything… so many photos and videos, he was a star in her town.. loved by all.. Duke had lots of walks by the ocean .. he loved the water... so he was certainly in his glory and lived his best life ❤

I had a strange feeling this week… something just unexplainable… so I messaged Margo… she of course is beyond devastated… Margo .. just such a wonderful Lady and Duke lit up when he saw her and they had many wonderful adventures… So, Thank you Margo for loving our boy just as much as we loved him…  Sorry for the scattered tribute..  😢 😢 😢 

Wait for me at the edge of the woods, by the cool stream you loved so much… I'll meet you there.. on the other side of the rainbow bridge... it's not just for dogs ya know.. we will be together and play and swim…  and I can't wait to see you again .. I Love you Dukie, give my mom a smooch please!!! ... I know you will... 😢 ❤
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“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” ~ Luke 23:43