My Buddy Charles
My Buddy Charles - Bob Ringwood
It was love at first sight that December day in 2019 when after leaving David and Mary’s annual Ringwood Christmas gathering, we headed to Helping Hounds in Syracuse to pick up our newest addition to the family, Charles Boyle Ringwood, a 3-year-old Collie/Kerr Mix rescue, and so freakin handsome!
Over a week has passed since departure and my heart is still broken. This was my buddy who was taken away from his family far too soon.
Our impression was that Charlie’s early years down south (figures!) were less than pleasant and so it was incumbent upon the Ringwood Family to make up for lost time.
Charle’s quickly adapted to his new surroundings, but this was a dog that was a true worry wart. He looked stressed sleeping and he slept a lot! Thunder and lightning were also enemies of Charles requiring anxiety pills to be administered upon their arrival. But he quietly gained confidence in us.
As most people know, I am one of “those” who can survive on pizza alone. Never did I see someone love pizza as much as myself. Charles eyeballs would actually bug out of their sockets when catching a whiff of that most excellent pleasure food.
Charles was also fond of Mommy’s soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, and Jen had the audacity to look at me and question his weight gain over the years.
Loving Charles had to be on “his” terms and his terms alone. Charles was less than thrilled with cuddling and eye contact. After the rubs behind and in the ears had run their course, the dog would get up and walk five feet away from you and plop himself down facing away from you…his proverbial middle paw to you reminding you that you are his #1.
But Charles really was the fifth child in this family behind Dad/Colin/Abby and Sean. The way he greeted you upon your arrival home from work or school was a love note, smile on his puss, tail waggin, anxious to fill you in on the day. This simple act of kindness on his part always filled my heart. What a warm reception he always provided, how I miss those terribly.
And the anxious enthusiasm he consistently demonstrated when asked if he wanted to go out for a walk, he would race down the stairs and make a quick left into the dining room heading for the back door. The wooden surface in the dining room made his toenails the equivalent of ice skates. What ensued shortly after that turn was a heap of fur all over the place, however not diminishing his interest in going out. He loved meeting new people and making friends. Youngsters in the neighborhood were always respectful to ask if they could pet him. He loved kids especially. I always had to remind forthcoming folks that once they petted him, from that point on they were friends for life, for actions such as those stayed with Charles.
Did I mention that Charles also liked to walk in front of moving cars whether they were behind him or in front? It was his way of saying, “Hey look at me!” Even when he entered any room, it usually included a smile on that gentle face and the tail waggin with excitement.
There was always comfort knowing he was nearby. Charles enjoyed company from a distance, but his favorite hang was during the Wheel/Jeopardy hour, until during Jeopardy when I would join him on the floor. His response usually was, “unless you pet me where I want…I am outtah here!” I still look for him, sitting in the dining room sitting on the corner of a rug that will forever have him as a part of its fabric or in the office with its wooden surfaces which I am certain cooled his tum tum.
His favorite place outdoors was behind a bush at the corner of the house that afforded him a soft bed and privacy, while also providing him with a view of activity in the back yard.
Charles was my second dog following the paw print of Irish (a gift from sister Teresa) who left me 40 years ago in my senior year in high school. Both those wonderful animals were there for me in times of transition, Irish my teenage years and Charles during Covid. Charles saw a lot of his family at home throughout most of 2020 post St. Patrick’s Day. He was especially loyal to Colin, Abby and Sean during this very odd time in the world.
He taught us many lessons, me in particular:
- How to pace myself
- The importance of rest
- Happiness over everything else
- Gratefulness that basic needs are met, and
- Unconditional love!
And upon his final hours, he showed me perseverance by coming to terms that his heath would not return, he made certain that my family would be there to support their father in his time of grief and ultimately it was him that choose us on the December day in 2019.
Oh, how I miss the walks, feeding him a treat, or his indecisiveness at the deck door undecided if he wanted to go out or stay in.
Yes, all dogs most definitely go to heaven, but they never leave us!
Charles has no doubt been greeted by Prince and Irish and cats Mark, Donny & Marie. I take tremendous comfort in knowing that this beautiful animal knew for darn sure that his family absolutely adored him and miss him terribly.
Thank you, Charles Boyle Ringwood, for sharing your life with us and filling our lives with joy and love.
