If you read my mom’s blog post about the Hard Hat Restaurant, you will know that one of my border collie cousins, Parker, had some health problems recently. Unfortunately, I found out that Parker lost his fight with the illness early Sunday morning. We are all sad to have to say goodbye to him, but he lived a great life.
As a late comer into his life, I don’t know everything about him, but here are a few things I do know:
- He loved to play fetch — Parker lived in a house with a huge fenced in backyard. He has a high deck off the kitchen door, steps to the ground and then a hill to the lowest part of his yard. His parents, my Aunt Randi and Uncle Shaun, would throw toys over the top deck to the yard. Parker would run down the steps, down the hill and pick up the toy. Then he would run it back up the hill and steps, drop the toy close to their feet and then bark like crazy until they threw it again. Parker would be able to play like this for hours. He really loved this game.
- He understood the number 5 — Because Parker was so obsessed with fetch he wore his parents (and anyone who would play with him) out. So his dad started telling him he would throw the toy “5 times.” Parker learned the word 5 so that anytime he heard the word he would start barking — even if it had nothing to do with playing. He was so silly!
- He loved Dock Dog events — I don’t really understand the attraction of jumping into water after a toy, but Parker loved it. In fact, I am pretty sure that is where he got the title “Crazy” Parker. As much as he loved fetching his toy in his own backyard, he was insane about it when a pool was involved. His parents even started putting a pool up every year so he could chase toys in the water at home. Go figure. I guess that he was pretty good. I don’t remember his longest jump, but it was pretty close to 30 feet. (My aunt would know the exact length to the inch!) Crazy Parker even had a flag with his pictures on it and trading cards.
- He had the best uncle for a dad — It’s no secret I love my Uncle Shaun. He’s a great guy. Parker not only had him for a dad, but they even shared the same birthday. That seemed to be a big deal for Parker and Uncle Shaun. They shared a special bond because of it.
- He loved kissing his mommy — Actually he liked giving kisses to anyone, but Aunt Randi would let him kiss her on her lips. As I non-kisser, I really don’t understand the appeal, but, hey, to each his own. All I know is that he kissed her so much that she even wrote a jingle about it. “Parker’s kisses make everything better! Parker’s kisses make everything right.”
As you can see Parker was a deeply loved dog. He and I didn’t always see eye to eye. We had a row or two in our day, mostly because we are both alpha dogs, and sometimes because his brother, Admiral Nelson, and I were playing. (I never could understand why Parker didn’t like us playing, but border collies are a breed unto themselves.)
I think it is going to be a little sad for awhile around Uncle Shaun and Aunt Randi’s house. I will do my best to cheer them up whenever I visit, but when you are loved like Parker there will be sorrow. Even a dog as awesome as me can’t change that.
