I'm worried about my big brown friend. I'm worried about surgery Thursday.

This is Klaus, my big brown friend.

This is his signature Zen brown dog deep thoughts by Klaus pose.

I love Klaus. He's a big, brown happy-go-lucky guy. With a big dog smile and a big warm heart- always happy to see you on the trail.

But Klaus is really getting old. His coat is changing from brown to yellow. I'm really worried about him. He can't do all the things he loves to do anymore.

That's the only thing I don't like about being a dog. The 7:1 dog rule. Every year, dogs get seven years older. Who made up that stupid rule? Can we please change it?

Big and brown. Size, shape and color

When Klaus' mom Carole adopted him as a puppy at the shelter, the sign said he was good with cats and would grow up to be a medium size brown dog. So they took him home -medium was just right.

But.... turns out, he takes up the entire back seat!!  You have to fold down BOTH seats to make him fit! He is Huge. Not even a little bit medium.

Not that size matters. Except when it comes to heart.

Color matters - in a thank God we're not all the same kind of way. All of my friends have color.

                                                                                                              Eloise and Klaus    Photo (c): Barb Ayers DogDiary.org

Headstrong women

Speaking of not being dull... Klaus has a sister - Eloise - she is headstrong. In a good way. She just can't stand being on a leash.

                                                                                                               Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

That just could be the new definition of headstrong. I'd call my mom headstrong and she doesn't wear a leash either.

Meanwhile, Klaus is always so Chill.

The friends we make - the crap that happens....

Klaus and I love walking our favorite trail in our home town, Mosier, OR in the Columbia River Gorge. The most amazing place on Earth.

Right next to that spot where, a year and a half ago, the oil train derailed.

Point is, crap happens.

Me and Klaus on the trail in our hometown- Mosier, Oregon     Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

We're on the journey together. The ups and downs. The ride of life. Not every moment is perfect.

I am having surgery this week. They are removing a tumor from my head. I'll be in a cone of shame for several weeks. So, you may not see much of me for a while. I'll do my best to write and tell you how it's going, but mom is a total wreck. Even though she's headstrong. 

We had a rough vet year last year, after losing my two old dog bros within months of each other. I'm only 6.5 (45 in dog years) - it's not time for me to fall apart just yet. I was hoping to avoid the vet and old age altogether.

Whatever it is - we face it together.

Thanks for being there.

Doodle

We lost one of our own - Don Benton. Dog lover, people lover, volunteer, donor, community leader. He gave to everyone and every cause, every day.

There are those people

that come along,

quite by accident

or maybe no accident at all.

 

 

 

They change your life

and the lives of all you know.

No fanfare.

Just there for others, helping them on their way.

 

They are selfless,

the soul of the community.

Giving is what they do.

Giving - not for credit, but for joy - for the gift of giving.

They walk not with pride, but with humility.

They are the people we long to be.

 

 

 

Sometimes they have life challenges

though we don’t think of angels facing challenges,

and they’re always helping others

so we miss that they’re actually human.

 

And so you think you have all the time in the world

to tell them how you feel.

and maybe a couple of times you did

but maybe you couldn’t form the perfect words today –

    in a room full of people,

    at life’s most private moment.

Or maybe you didn’t get there in time.

Who knew we only had a few moments left?

We always think there is more time…

 

And yet Don knew.

He knew how much we loved him.

Every one of us – and everyone we know.

So did his family and friends.

And God above.

Everyone knows how much we loved him – and always will.

Don had a soft spot for four legged kids and was on the board of Hood River Adopt A Dog. Here's his best friend Dieter. Don and Bonnie suffered the heartbreaking loss of their dog son this spring. Now Don and Dieter are reunited again.

In Hood River and every Gorge community –

he was our own,

he was selfless,

he gave everything he had to every moment,

to every person,

to every cause.

 

 

 

His wife Bonnie and daughter Lea Ann

were gracious - courageous -

they shared their deepest hearts,

and darkest moments this week

with us.  

They invited us in.

No place like home. Left to right: Dog Dieter, wife Bonnie, granddaughter Lily and Don. 

We are all family – related or not.

Bentons- every one of us.

Shoulder to shoulder.

In the room with Don - or caring from afar.

Don was an active in Hood River Lions and Rotary clubs. Here he is at this summer's installation of the Rotary Peace Pole at Jackson Park.   Photo by Chelsea Marr

I was there,

proud witness to your life, Don

and your amazing family

and the hope you built and blossomed in our community.

 

And in that moment,

shoulder to shoulder,

all of us Bentons - here and everywhere -

wanted you to stay.

Yep - he was a wise cracker. We loved that about him. With Lily.

And so the Don Benton reminder of life is this:
 

There is no moment - but this moment.

Not a moment to waste.

Say what’s in your heart.

Show up. For each minute of life.

For each other.

And give. Don was such a giver.

 

Dog River is the original name of Hood River, Oregon. Dog River Coffee was Don's favorite hangout. Here, he surprised people with free coffee and the gift of his time. He had many young friends, old friends and community leaders that he helped and supported from this, his unofficial board room.

 

Because

there are those people

that come along

quite by accident

or maybe no accident at all.

Don was active in Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Next Door, Helping Hands Against Violence and so many other organizations that help people. He loved people and pets in equal measure, and helped all of them.

Don married later in life and attracted the most amazing woman - Bonnie. His life was rich with family - daughter Lea Ann, Son in Law Eddie, granddaughter Lily and best friend Phil Thaler (not pictured.) And all the rest of us in the Columbia River Gorge - we were his family, too.

Read more about Don here