And on a Lighter Note…Sort of

 

This post was going to be titled Confessions of a Hot Mess because that’s about how well I’ve been coping with Charley being gone. Just to give you an idea of how badly it’s been going, I have a pimple. I am way to old to have a pimple. A daughter said it was stress.

I’ve been hiking in the mountains and spending time with Elbee, Gus and Riley, our Golden retriever and Charley’s uncle, trying to come to terms with the loss. I miss Charley’s protective presence following me around the house. I miss that other welcoming bark when I come home. I miss walking into the hospital with him by my side.

This morning I pictured Charley sitting next to me, with his paw on my lap and staring at me as if to say, “get a grip.” Well, today I’m going to get a grip. I’m going to celebrate some of the fun we had when Charley was younger.

Many of you know we did the movie I Love You Man.

ELBEE Is there anyone who doesn’t know about their blink and you missed it cameo which Pack Leader thought put her in Oscar contention? Yes, I’m back. With my big brother gone, I have to be the voice of reason and be funny. You try it.

By the way, I’m wearing glasses to give the photo some gravitas. See, I’m smarter than I look.

Since Elbee mentioned the Oscars, let me share that Charley and I worked an Academy Awards gifting suite. To be honest, I don’t think it was an A-list event because the “stars” had to wear rubber bracelets so we’d know they were stars. In earlier posts, I’ve written about Charley being on Pit Bulls and Parolees, making the cover of the Bed Head Pajama Catalog and being in several parades, including the Hollywood Christmas Parade with the dog whisperer, Cesar Milan.

Charley and I also  participated in numerous street fairs and charity walks. Among others, we took part in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Light the Night Walk Against Cancer and Mariette Hartley’s Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention where Charley was the mascot.

Speaking of mascots, for several years he was the mascot for the Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Schools, a program that prepares high schoolers for careers in law enforcement. The kids loved him but the officer who had to introduce Charley at a meeting had trouble keeping a straight face when he brought out my huge, shaggy dog.

I can only imagine what former Chief Bratton was thinking when they shot this photo or when Charley took part in graduation exercises.

 

Charley initially got involved in the program because I was the weight training coach for the students. I would often bring him to events to teach the kids about the healing work of therapy dogs.

ELBEE Oh no! She mentioned weight lifting! So soon after Charley’s passing and she’s going to bring out a bodybuilding photo from the archives. I threatened to boycott the blog if she ever did it again but under the circumstances I have to cut her some slack. I mean the pimple and all.