June 16, 1989 to December 9, 2002

On December 9, 2002, Judith sent us a tribute to her special guy, Floppy.

Once upon a time, a gorgeous Golden girl called Zoe came from England to France to live next to an old mill stream. She rollicked, frolicked, then seduced and married Socrates. Soon she was the surprised but tender mother of ten. Her biggest and brightest boy was born smiling, wiggling and wagging his ears and tail all the time, and so she called him Floppy. They paddled in the river and chased cows in the field until Zoe needed to retire to the sunny south to warm her old bones.

There rests Zoe, after 14 great years of life. Her so good and faithful son Floppy stopped by her grave every day, on his way to chase goats and rabbits, ever smiling and wagging, for almost two years more . . . until that saddest of sad days when he too was laid down beside his mother to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Floppy will forever be the sunshine of my life.

Here is Floppy on his 13th birthday. His first present was a membership in Ollie’s Club, in memory of his mother Zoe, who died at almost 15 in May 2001.
   
Because our extraordinary Golden Rochelle gave Zoe a page to herself just when our sadness was almost unbearable so that we could hear that sweet melody which Rochelle chose for her and see her photo all the time . . . and the landofpuregold keeps teaching us about the best of everything Golden, we never end a day without checking ‘what’s new?’ or finding an answer where no one else could give one, especially now that we are starting France’s first Golden Rescue, Golden Retriever Rescue of France (GRReF)!    
 
And this guy Floppy started a whole new career last year as a therapy dog with local school children and folks in retirement homes. His goodness, sweetness and intuition endear him everywhere, despite his hefty 90 pounds!

Floppy, like Ollie, is the once-in-a-lifetime treasure of our French family.

You will surely love this photo. Here is a much younger Floppy with his brother Max. If only these treasures could remain like this forever.

Here is a prayer for Floppy . . . .

                              Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close
to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends
so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old
are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams
of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing;
they each miss someone very special to them,
who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes
when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group,
flying over the green grass,
his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and
your special friend finally meet,
you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face;
your hands again caress the beloved head,
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together