Birki

My family's recently deceased golden retriever loved rhyme.  She adored water, but hated to swim.  She was the most loyal, lovable dog I've ever known.

One of Birki's favorite things to do was to take walks around the neighborhood wearing her purple leash and collar.  She knew the route, and if one strayed from that route, she would pull in the correct direction to avoid being led astray.  Any rhyming variation of "Birki, want to go for a walk?!" got her excited.  My personal favorite is, "Turkey, we need to have a talk."  And then we'd walk.  And Birki was happy.  She was well-behaved and only made bathroom breaks in the barren field on Ashline Drive.

Oh, and Birki loved puddles: the muddier the better.  She also liked shallow streams where she could prance around and lap up the water and saturate the curly hairs on her belly.  I only saw Birki swim once, and that was when she made one step too far in a lake, hit a deep pocket and gave one little doggie paddle to get her back to shallower waters.  I could tell she was nervous.

Named after one of the most comfortable and reliable brands of shoes -- Birkenstock -- our dog was also reliable and a comfort to the family.  She was the most perceptive and loving creature I've ever met.  She was stubborn, but only in ways that made her more lovable.  She will be missed, but I'm happy to know she lived a happy, long life.  I'll miss my Birk Tirk.