Kobe-Dog.

I cheated on this one. This is a picture of a picture. I had to today because i can no longer take pictures of Mr. Kobadia Springfield Lanter. Puppy past away today at the age of (almost) 14 - 98 in human years. Born Mar 9th (1 day before mine).
I have a million stories of Kobe - way to many write and probably not enough of that he deserved. But ill tell you about the day i got him.
I was in college - the wonderful academic institution of Southern Oregon University in Ashland Oregon. I had just moved into a house from the dorms and i felt that since i im finally in a house - i had to get a puppy. Without any logic of how much effort and work it may have been - i didn't care. I wanted a golden retriever. always did since i was little and begged my parents every year for one.
I wont ever forget that day. I had a severe case of mono and was ridiculously sick. But i had finally found a breeder that was selling pure breed goldens. So Cam and i jumped in my truck and headed over Greensprings Mt to a farm. Being that i was sick-going over the mt pass was almost unbearable. To the point where i was begging Cam to turn around and head back down. I couldnt take the pain - felt like my head was in being run over by a semi. But of course he kept going because he was just as excited as i was to get this dog.
We finally made it up to the farm. The family met us outside and we began talking to them in the yard about the liter. I didnt really care - honestly i wanted to just get home and drink a bottle of nyquil to make myself pass out and forget the pain. 2 minutes into the conversation we saw the barn door open in the distance and 3-4 puppies about 1 month old i think took off like they were freed from jail - sprinting through the grass field bouncing like rabbits almost they were so excited. Every one running in different directions - looking for anything and everything - literally freaking out.
As we stood there watching these puppies run around the field - 1 puppy literally sprinted from the barn on a straight line right to me. All the other ones were being wrangled by the breeder-not successfully. But this one. Soon to be known at the notorious K-O-B (named after rapper Notorious BIG because he was born the same day he was shot - we thought he was reincarnated) decided that he didnt care about chasing after birds or running from everyone - he decided to chose me. And so it was done.
Most of you know the story that i moved so many times in college that i eventually had to give him to my parents. He became my mom's best friend.
I like to think that fate played a big part in many peoples lives that day. I picked him out, my parents took care of him - but it seems that everyone has a story about him. I sent an email to a group of buddies today who havent probably seen him for 10 years and i before i knew it my inbox was littered with replies of random stories of the college years. Most of them about Kobe helping them meet women. And if you ever want to hear the one about the "blow up doll" incident - let me know.
Anyways - i could write for hours on this one.
Kobe - you will be dearly missed. You were always there waiting when i came home and always there watching when i left. You didnt care if i failed a course, said the wrong thing or made a complete ass of myself. You were a mans best friend. Thank you.