THE SHORT HAPPY LIFE OF ARGO PHILIP

A LOVE STORY

How does one measure the degrees of love, both giving or receiving?  If using the usual scale or 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), it can be 100 or even more.

There are no boundaries – no reservations, no holding back.

How can humans and four legged, so called animals, have such love bonds?

He came for a visit to us when he was a youngster of about 6.  We looked in each other’s eyes and fell in love.  He has been in our home now for about 7 years, taking over the entire house and garden.  It has become his private property.

He stays with us for about 22 hours a day.  He takes only two hours for his private nap, and while he naps, we must provide him with classical music played on his own radio.

We have a comfortable chair where I sit, watch my television, and doze off.  Nearby is another comfortable chair and ottoman, reserved for my wife to sit near me so we can share our time, comments, and conversation.

He took over this chair.  He lies down, stretches himself out, and watches me, and my TV programs from 5:00 until 8:00 at night.  We keep this vigil.  He knows the routine well, and 10 minutes to 8:00 he gets up, stands near me and demands that I take him into the garden where he eliminates in exactly the same place, under the same bush, very discretely, just like people do when they close the door to the bathroom and flush the toilet.

He will watch in the morning when we clean up and deposit the waste.  He makes sure that we use our garden hose and wash his private toilet.

Actually, in the line of his caretakers, we are second.  The first were my grandchildren, Samantha and Jeffrey.  They first saw him first when he was still a tiny pup cuddled with his mother and siblings.  They saw this gorgeous creature with reddish hair, and bright eyes.  There is a reason why the breed is called: Golden Retriever.  He tried to come to them, but fell, his legs not yet strong enough to carry him.  He tried again, and tripped again – giving them what they saw as a smile.

They adopted him immediately and took him to their home and taught him most of his good manners.  The rest he adopted himself from observing what is nice, and good, and praiseworthy.

We communicate mentally.  No voice command (well hardly ever); no hand gestures.  When he is in another room, watching Monique, and I want to see him, all I do is call him mentally, and after a few seconds (or maybe a minute) he comes to me, stands near me as if asking:  

"What do you want from me?"

I pat his head; he lies down near me, and shares my space.

On rare occasions, or when we have to go out at night and leave him alone in the garage with the door open to the garden, he will not go to sleep.  He waits by the front door for our return, greats us with a polite bark, and waits for the nosh that we bring home to him.  Maybe it is the handout that he likes best.

He never barks, except if a stranger parks a car in our driveway, or when someone rings our bell.

We are happy to be alone, yet when family or guests come in, he welcomes them all.  He gives and wants to receive attention and love.  He loves to pose for photographs.

Yes, there are thousands of photos taken of him. They must be all over the world.

Besides his garden, he enjoys playing on the mile long public lawn that is near the bay and is called The Marina Greens.  He runs, rolls over again and again, finds tennis balls, and almost always holds two in his mouth.

People look and wonder and smile at this spectacle.

This area is a must for the multitude of tourists and visitors.  The view of the water, the bridges, and the nearby towers and hills is unsurpassed.  He has also become an attraction himself, and is often photographed by strangers. They smile, photograph him, and bring his photo home to all their various countries.

He is also a great swimmer and loves the ocean.  Monique will throw out a tennis ball - way out, maybe 100 feet.  He will swim out to retrieve it over and over again.  Maybe this is the reason that he has no fleas.

When asked what his name is, people always remark how unusual it is. They have never heard about it and so we readily explain.

His name is "Argo-Philip", a romantic name given for a romantic event – the honeymoon journey of his first parents, Samantha and Jeffrey.  After their wedding, they flew to Greece, chartered a sailboat, and visited the many islands. The name of the boat was "Argus," and when he came into their lives, they named him "Argo."

This is the classic name mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, the Greek tale about the epic life and journey of Jason.

Jason returns home after being away for 20 years.  He was sold as a slave, became lost, traveled on great adventures, and finally returns to his native place.  Nobody, but nobody, recognizes him, not even his wife who longed for him.  The only creature that recognizes his old master is his faithful, now ancient dog, Argo!

When Argo is sure that Jason is acknowledged and put in his honorable position, the dog lies down at his master’s feet and dies.

I added my name, Philip, to Argo’s name, as he is my faithful companion and he readily answers to this name.

At this writing, my lovely Argo is about 13 and a half years old. His golden hair is turning gray, and he has developed what the veterinarians say are tumors on his neck, body, and one foot.  We are watching him carefully.  So far he doesn’t show any discomfort.  He is happy and playful.  He eats normally, although he wants more and more love and attention…and he gets it.

We will never let him suffer.