"Magic Moments"

[happygold]

Last night,sitting on the front steps with Jack,peace and quiet to me, enticing nights sounds for him.Me sitting back against the house, a beer after work(Guinness), and him lying facing the moonlit darkness, leaning the length of my stretched-out legs,watching and listening to the night sounds in the far far distance..coyotes, night birds,neighbor down the road's semi coming home...sounds you only hear in the dark if your dog points them out to you.We spent a rare hour sitting together..me thinking about hunters and how amazing it would be to sit in a duckblind with him for hours .
The occasional shift in postion,lick on the face,took the place of checking out of a stick to chew,nudging for a game,etc,so much a part of our togetherness in his early puppyhood.That high energy put aside in this hour of quiet togetherness.
I'd like to hear about some others magic moments with their Goldens...I know they abound!

[SweetDaisyDew]

Happygold, I practically experienced the moment with you the way you tell it. I have experienced these times with Daisy too, and it is one of the most serene sensations. Hard to put to words, yet you have so well :)

I remember one time in particular, we were down at the pond (we live in a very rural community so night sounds abound, especially at the pond). We were both relaxing, sitting together at the edge of the water, listening. After a time, I couldn't tell you how long, maybe 15 minutes, maybe 5, I realized I had been pulled away from the moment into the sounds, so intently, I had forgotten entirely that Daisy was even there beside me. But she was of course, right there just where I had left her, pulled away into the sounds of the night just as I had been. The moment struck me as so .... hard to find the right word ... so "zen" like that we had both been experiencing the same thing together, yet separate.

From your post, I think you know exactly what I'm trying to say.

:003

[Touchka]

Me too. One of my favourite moments in life is sitting on the terrace steps with our oldest Goldie Chloé. When the pups have all gone to bed we sit out there in the moonlight and listen; her with her head on my lap. Pups are great but you can't beat those mellow moments with your old pal!:dogbark

[goldenjack]

I have a slight disagreement with happgolds' beer of choice. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" />
Nevertheless, I congradulate you on a very good post. <img src = http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/smiles/906.gif>People often find it difficult to put into words what they are feeling, but I think you've got it old chap. <img src = http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/smiles/righton.gif>

[AussieGoldenLover]

Wow, what a wonderful, thought provoking post to read!!
I too, was drawn right into it.

My magic moments are when I get home from work, and my 2 goldens bound down the stairs to greet me, tails wagging, all happy and excited. They don't even let me get out of the car, they just stand on their hind legs and lick me, and welcome me home!!!

Other special times......relaxing on the bed with my Goldens beside me, just resting, pressing their bodies against me.
.......being able to run my fingers through their coat, caress their silky ears, and listen to their gentle sighs as they stretch and relax.
......a soft lick on my hand just to let me know they're there with me. [as if I could forget!].
Just having my goldens is magic.

One very special moment was the day I met my first golden, Jessie.
My now fiance, knowing how much I loved the breed, had searched through the canine council here in Brisbane, and found a local breeder, and unbenownest to me, had placed a deposit on a puppy.
Mothers Day 2002 arrived, and after a morning filled with gifts, I relaxed for an afternoon snooze.
"Come on, wake up, we're going for a drive!" announced my man.
"Awww, I just lay down, I wanna sleep." I moaned.
"Come on, it'll be a afternoon out of the house." he coaxed, so I reluctantly stirred myself and went with him and the kids.
"Where are we going?" I asked whilst in transit.
"To do some shopping......."
"No, there's no shops open today." was my reply. Back then we didn't have Sunday shopping.
"We're going to look at a trailer I want to buy..."
"We don't have the money for a trailer. You woke me up for that??????"
"Promise, you'll love it...."
yeahhhh, as if.......
We arrived at a house, and then in the front yard was a boat and trailer.
"Well, here it is, what do you think??"
"Wayne, I told you, we can't afford it!!!"
He lead me by the hand to the backyard, where a lady was waiting, with 3 adult goldens around her. Just behind where she was standing was a pen.........and in that pen....................
PUPPIES.........Golden puppies!!!!!!!!!
I looked at Wayne, and he smiled as he said to me...... "You pick one out....one of these pups is for you as a anniversary/mothers day gift from me!"
Apparently my jaw had dropped, and I remember my eyes filling with tears as I entered the pen to be surrounded by these beautiful, cuddly, lovable golden puppies who were 5 weeks old!
I was like a kid in a candy store, trying to decide which one of these puppies I wanted as mine.
They were all so beautiful with that delicious puppy breath, that I'm sure you all know.
I eventually, and with much difficulty, picked out my girl, a quiet, cuddly pup who I immediately named Jessie.
I had never had such a surprise as I did that day, and I will never forget it, or the love of my man for doing that for me.
The 3 weeks I had to wait till Jessie was old enough to come home with me seemed to last forever, but finally it did arrive, and now she's here with me, as well as with our newest addition, Shadow, who's almost 6 months old.
My 'quiet' pup quickly showed us that she was just pretending, and was full of mischief!
But her kennel name still reflects what type of girl she is, and always will be to me........ MomentSoGold Softee.
She IS a softy, and my baby.

[vicnbud]

The most astounding moment I had with my Buddy was when I went traveling with the Labrador club ( In S.Korea)...We traveled about 45 minutes out of Seoul to take the dogs swimming. When we parked the cars on the side of the road, all the dogs darted off toward the water ( all water-loving retrievers)...Buddy was the only golden among the group. We all ( Inc. dogs ) had to walk down a very rocky cliff in order to reach the water. Of course, the dogs took seconds to get there...when I took my first step, most dogs were already swimming!! Anyway, Buddy *LOVES* the water so much and under normal circumstances, he cant control himself. Gosh....one day I was walking him in front of a *POSH* hotel in Seoul and before I knew it, Buddy was in the exquisite fountain out front!!!!Swimming all around as if that was the most normal thing to do!!!! All the suits came running over....of course, all I could do was play the dumb foreigner part and go in after him...laughed to kill myself though...Buddy was oblivious to it all!!! Anyway...back to the story......hmmmmm :\
So...Buddy wasn't running like the other dogs toward the water...he was running a bit and looking back to make sure I was there. I lost my footing at one point and took a tumble....Buddy had turned around at that second and he ran back up the cliff and planted himself firmly in front of me to keep me from falling any further....then he wouldn't budge until to grabbed hold of his collar and he lead me down the cliff....I cant explain the feeling I had. I don't think I have ever felt so much gratitude and love in my life. Until that point, I always said that Buddy's favorite thing in the world was water...now I say it is *ME* with a smile!!! :jump2 That was certainly a magic moment!!!!

[taxijeff]

i really think i have many moments with my goldens but i have to say the most magical moments for me are in the early morning hours. Shadow 14mos and Star 7 mos old know the routine and every morning we take our walk through the woods and fields back to the creek where they take their morning dip.I can't describe the pleasure i feel inside as i watch them run freely and explore all the sights and sounds. Shadow is so graceful and he leaps through the tall grass and Star watches so closely and trys to follow his every move. Its so peaceful and beautiful to watch them.I fill up inside because they are so full of life and energy and they enjoy this treasured walk so much. They truly enjoy the simple pleasures and beauties our world has to offer..Its to bad more people didn't take heed from them. I wouldn't give up that morning walk with my babies for nothing in the world..:dogbark ;)

[SweetDaisyDew]

I know that feeling :)