Sweet Molly

Molly Baker, one sweet girl.

Molly joined our family at the most inopportune time-- and yet it turned out to be the perfect time.

It was March, 2006, and we were living in Ada, Ohio.  I was a 5th year senior frantically busy with all the end-of-the-quarter requirements necessary to graduate in May with my dream degree, my B.F.A. in fine arts.  

Ken, as president of Ohio Northern University, was also incredibly absorbed with all the challenges of a diverse and vibrant university combined with all the end-of-the-quarter ceremonies, functions and events.  

The days were filled, the nights scheduled with concerts, dinners and functions. The alumni reunion travel was nearly over but there were still the big events in Columbus and Cleveland.

It was not a good time to adopt a puppy.

Molly, one of my early digital images.

It was an usual time for us in that we did not have a dog for the first time in our married life together.  Callie-the-Cat was perfectly okay with that but we had talked about "someday" getting another dog, but not now.  It was simply too busy a life to even consider having a dog--and, imagine a puppy!

But, as everyone knows:

Life often gets in the way while you're making other plans.

My assistant, Tammy, came to work March 5 with the news that "she had met a dog with the sweetest disposition" that she thought we should meet.  

It seems that one of our students, Barbie, found a very frightened and obviously lost Golden Retriever puppy wandering around campus.  Of course she took it back to her residence hall where she and her roommate, Courtney, quietly ignored campus rules about pets in one's room and tried valiantly to find the owners, but to no avail.  

Because they were students and had their own demands as such, they placed this dog, who went by a myriad of names from Taffy to Honey, with all sorts of dog-loving faculty members for weekends, but these helpful foster families already had dogs and there was seemingly no home for this puppy.  

For over a month Barbie and Courtney tried both to find the original owners and to secure a new home for this cute dog they had come to love.  And, that's where Tammy comes into the story.

Tammy's son, Brandon, was dating Barbie (they are now married!) and this dog-of-a-hundred-names eventually arrived at Tammy and Wayne's house.  Tammy fell for this dog in a heartbeat and knew, she once told me, that this dog belonged with us.

After telling us all about her, despite our resolve not to get a dog until "someday," we agreed that she should come over Monday night for a "NON-COMMITTAL SLEEPOVER." (Ken insists there is no such thing as a NON-COMMITTAL SLEEPOVER.)

Callie-the-Cat

I thought you might enjoy an excerpt from my diary regarding our first meeting.

March 12, 2006

We agreed to meet a dog last Monday night for a trial "sleepover."  None of us got much sleep. Molly, as we named her, was so excited to be with us that she resisted the entire "lie down" concept.  

Poor Callie had been chased through the house and was somewhat hiding.  At about 1:30 a.m., when Ken had been wakened yet again by Molly checking on him, I told him that I thought this wasn't going to work.  Ken surprised me that even in his sleepless condition he said, "Of course it will.  Give it time."  At that precise moment Callie leaped onto the bed!  What a trooper to brave the perils of a new dog to stealthily creep up the stairs and claim the bed as hers!  She hissed at Molly to make certain Molly was clear on the bed ownership issue.  Surprisingly, she was.

Molly never fell for the "retrieving" concept,
preferring the snatch-grab-and run method
of getting loving attention.

Molly is mostly "Golden Retriever," we think.  She has that beautiful G.R. face and warm brown eyes.  Her face is still puppy-ish.  She's stocky and VERY muscular.  She young, maybe 9-months-old, and FULL OF ENERGY!  

She loves to play and be petted or held. She loves walking each morning and I went from 0% physical activity to 6,000% in minutes!  I think I'm developing shin splints!!  I should look great by summer with all this walking.

We have toys strewn all over the house and Molly loves the throw rugs and has her own in the kitchen.

On March 9 we got our first full night's sleep since Molly arrived.  What a difference sleep makes!

Right now she's napping on the rug on Ken's side of the bed--Molly, our new "slightly used" mostly-Golden Retriever puppy who is "mostly" housebroken and adorable with a loving heart and sweet puppy disposition.  

I can't believe we have a dog!

And, so began our 10 years together...

One of our many walks on the ONU campus.

In our early years together, it would have been impossible to juggle the demands of the university with all the travel, functions and events without the help of Tammy and her husband, Wayne. Fortunately, they adored our Sweet Molly, who was often a guest in their home while we were traveling.  

And, then came the day when it was time to bid goodbye to life at the university to begin a new chapter in Colorado.

Callie snuggles next to Molly on the long drive west.
Molly seems less enthusiastic to have to share her space with Callie.

That was almost five years ago.  Since arriving here we have walked, explored and played in the Cache-la-Poudre River.

She has chased thousands of rabbits, who always ran for the sport of it but seemed to know they were never in real danger.

She has stolen underwear, socks, shoes and anything she can grab, like pillowcases and dropped LEGO parts--all for the joy of being chased and petted.

Molly and me, spring 2014

Molly Baker
March 6, 2006 - March 2, 2016

As the years went by, Molly gained some "senior dog privileges," like getting the okay to sleep on the couch on her down comforter and taking full benefit of a folding dog ramp to more easily get in and out of the car.

On March 1, after settling comfortably on our bed for her morning nap (another senior dog privilege,) she experienced a sudden attack--perhaps a stroke--that left her dazed and us rushing her to the vet. 
X-rays showed a heart-based tumor. 

We said goodbye to our Sweet Molly--our loving friend, companion and family member the next afternoon.

Such a naughty girl.  Always playful. Always happy to wake us early in the mornings.  Always and forever in our hearts.